Extra patrols to tackle car thefts

Gardaí believe a multi-pronged approach, including voluntary stewarding at sporting events and extra garda patrols, may be required in tackling a spate of thefts from cars.

Vehicle break-ins have deprived owners of tens of thousands of euro in cash and personal items.

The latest incidents occurred in east Cork on bank holiday Monday when seven cars were broken into while their owners attended two sporting events.

Cash and mobile phones were taken from cars parked outside East Cork Golf Club as well as at a hot-rod meeting less than half a mile away at Broomfield, Midleton.

In the past six months, few towns and villages in north and east Cork have escaped the attention of gangs specialising in such crimes. They have targeted unattended cars parked outside sporting events, graveyards, and churches, in particular.

A garda spokesman for the Cork North Division said it may be time for organisers of events to plan for voluntary stewarding to guard against thefts from cars.

As the weather improves and more people head to beaches or leisure areas such as woodland walks, gardaí are planning extra patrols to target the thieves.