Inquiry as raiders target nine cars in eight minutes
It was the second such smash-and-grab raid this year on cars parked at the Cork Harlequins sports ground near Farmer’s Cross, close to Cork Airport.
The latest incident took place on Saturday as people watched a division four ladies hockey clash between Cork Harlequins and Bruff.
Dozens of cars were parked in the club’s car park when the raiders struck some time after 11.30am.
They smashed small panel windows in the rear doors of several cars, but smashed the entire rear windscreen of at least one car. They also attempted to steal a child’s buggy from a one car.
The raiders fled before the incident was noticed. The alarm was raised only when someone returning to the car park spotted the damage to the cars.
Gardaí were alerted and on the scene quickly. Garda forensic experts conducted a detailed technical examination of the damaged cars.
They are also examining footage from the sports club CCTV cameras.
Harlequins president Stephen Dale said they repositioned some of the cameras after the last spate of break-ins: “Hopefully, they will have picked up something... It’s so disappointing. These guys have no shame. They just smash windows and go.”
A Garda spokesman urged people to be vigilant and to never leave valuables in a parked vehicle. There was a marked increase last year in the number of thefts from cars parked at sports events, outside churches and graveyards, across several Cork garda divisions.
Cars parked at golf clubs and forest parks, and unattended cars parked at bank holiday sporting events in particular were targeted, with cash, handbags and mobile phones amongst the most popular items stolen.
ATM cards, Laser cards, driver licences, car stereos, and in-car entertainment systems were also taken.
Gardaí at the time encouraged sports clubs to consider voluntary stewarding at their car parks to guard against thefts.
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