Shoppers Urged To Be Aware Of Car Park Thefts

Shoppers have been urged to be mindful of retail car park thefts this Christmas, with new figures revealing that €400,000 worth of goods was stolen from shoppers' cars in Ireland last year.

The warning has been issued on Retail Safety Day, with Garda Analysis Service (GAS) figures also showing that over 50 retail car park thefts took place each month last year.

The GAS also reveal that incidents are most common on Tuesdays and Fridays between 12 noon and 6pm, with thefts rising in December. The average value taken per theft was €600, while the most commonly taken items are cash, electronics, tools and handbags.

Launched to coincide with the start of the busy festive shopping period, Retail Safety Day urges members of the public to engage in safe shopping and parking in order to avoid becoming a victim of crime, whilst also improving their personal security.

Sergeant Kelvin Courtney of the Garda Bureau of Community Engagement Unit said: "Customers should be careful while shopping. Always park in well-lit and secure areas. When you leave your car, lock all doors and windows and double check to make sure. Don't leave property or cash on view, take it with you. Report all thefts and suspicious activities to staff or Gardaí.

"We strongly encourage shoppers to engage in safe parking as over 50 incidents of theft from vehicles at retail car parks occur every month. With an average loss of €600 per incident, many of these thefts are avoidable. Following some of these simple steps will make sure your Christmas doesn't get spoiled by theft.

"There are also over 100 thefts from customers in shops every month. Handbags are being targeted when left in trolleys or hanging on buggies. The handbag itself isn't always the item that is taken, sometimes objects within the handbag are targeted too and often they are not immediately noticed missing by the owner. Mobile phones are the most commonly stolen object."

Retail Safety Day also aims to raise awareness amongst retailers on ways to prevent business losses from criminal activity. Shoplifting adds 3% to the price of products.

The Garda Analysis Service also said that shoplifting at Christmas time last year cost retailers €55 million, while the overall loss in 2015 was €255 million. However, thefts from shops have decreased by 2.7% this year so far, according to the CSO.

(MH/LM)