Gardaí in Donegal are advising Christmas shoppers to plan their shopping trips wisely to avoid the risk of thefts.
If you are buying an expensive or highly sought-after item this Christmas, make this the last stop before you go home.
With the new PS5 and Xbox consoles in high demand this month, they could be a prime target for thieves.
“You never know who is watching and so our advice is to leave the collection of such items until you are ready to return home again,” said Garda spokeperson Grainne Doherty.
“Please do not leave them in your car while you continue on with your shopping.”
The warning comes after the recent theft of a smartphone from a car parked in a housing estate in Stranorlar.
Gardaí are investigating a theft from a car that had been parked at Ard Greine Court in Stranorlar on Sunday the 13th of December. A black Samsung Galaxy A6 was stolen from the car between 10.15pm and 11.15pm.
If anyone observed anything in that area around that time that might assist Gardaí with the investigation, they are asked to call Letterkenny Garda Station on 074-9167100.
Garda Doherty added this advice for the public at all times: “Please do not ever leave anything of any value in your car, particularly within public view. Park in a well lit location if possible and also always ensure that your car is locked.”