Surge in break-ins as thieves target cars parked at sports clubs

Bad weather has forced criminals to change tack. As frequent rain kept walkers away from beaches and beauty spots, car thieves had only slim pickings.

However, they have turned their attention to playing fields and golf clubs.

Gardaí have issued a warning to sports people after a series of break-ins to cars in Co Cork.

A Garda spokesman said in recent weeks, golf clubs, rugby and GAA clubs were being targeted by thieves.

The latest incident happened yesterday at Old Christian’s Rugby Club at Rathcooney, Glanmire. Three cars had their windows smashed in as their owners were attending a health and safety course at the club.

Gardaí said the thieves struck between 10.30am and 11am and stole a number of valuable items from the vehicles.

A number of cars were also broken into recently at Mallow Golf Club and GAA clubs in Kildorrery and Killavullen.

The thieves’ haul included cash, personal documents, ATM cards, Laser cards, driver licences, mobile phones, Playstation games, clothing, bags, and wallets.

Gardaí believe the same thieves are likely to have struck at both Killavullen GAA Club and Mallow Golf Club on Aug 11.

In Killavullen, a man aged 30-40 and a youth were seen acting suspiciously near the GAA club. The break-ins occurred at both venues some time between 10am and lunchtime.

On Aug 23, three cars were broken into at Kildorrery GAA Club when members of the football team were training between 8.45pm and 10pm.

Gardaí say criminals are turning their attention to sporting venues, knowing in all likelihood that their victims will be away from their cars for quite some time.

They have advised people not to keep valuables in their cars and not to put them in the boot when they arrive at the sport ground because the thieves may be watching.

Meanwhile, as a result of a separate investigation, gardaí have seized around €10,000 worth of drugs from Nohoval, near Kinsale.

Local gardaí, aided by the Cork West Divisional Drugs Squad carried out a planned search of a dwelling in the village at 2pm on Monday.

They recovered 12 mature cannabis plans and 250 grammes of cannabis herb.

A Garda spokesman said two men aged in their mid-20s had been questioned as part of the investigation and a file was being prepared for the DPP’s office.