Main pic: Sergeant Paul Wallace (Crime Prevention Officer) and Garda Annemarie McGrath with management from Pennys, Letterkenny.
Gardaí have confirmed that almost 90% of recorded crimes in the Letterkenny area this year were committed in the retail sector.
In the Letterkenny Garda District alone, there have been 251 recorded incidents which account for 87% of the incidents to date this year.
This equates to a 57% increase this year, the highest level in five years, according to Sergeant Paul Wallace, Divisional Crime Prevention Officer.
He said the peak days for such crimes are Saturday, between 2pm and 5pm, which accounted for almost 50% or retail related crimes.
“Commercial premises in the county are, and have been the target of organised groups of criminals,” Sgt Wallace said.
“These criminals are organised and are targeting retail outlets during opening hours, focusing on high value items which have seasonal demand – primarily high value toys/games, electrical goods, perfumes/aftershaves and alcohol.”
The criminals are ‘determined individuals’, and are focused on gaining access to selected products.
“Retailers are requested to brief staff at the beginning of the trading day to be focused, vigilant and alert in the area of the targeted items. Staff should proactively engage with customers offering assistance but at all times remaining vigilant. It follows that attention should be focused on the peak times as outlined above”.
Gardaí in Donegal have issued advice to the owners of retail commercial business premises in the busy retailing period in the run up to Christmas 2023.
Remember vigilant proactive staff are key to preventing customer theft.
Business premises require the following basic measures:
- Intruder alarm systems should only be installed by persons who operate from an established business address that can be verified & registered with the P.S.A – Private Security Authority. Information at www.psa.ie
- Intruder Alarm systems in business premises should have a back-up signalling facility via GSM / Radio back up link in order that they can operate in the event of a telephone line outage. This is a basic requirement and should be upgraded where necessary to keep abreast of current crime trends.
- CCTV systems should only be installed by competent registered persons. Hard drives have to be secured or have a back-up facility. If the recording equipment is not secure – you may as well have no cctv equipment at all.
- Roof and attic spaces should have wire screening to prevent physical access and have monitoring capability by the alarm system.
- Roller shutters must be properly secured and if electrically operated have a remote power outage/kill switch.
- Lighting should operate internally in conjunction with alarm activation to draw attention to the premises. Perimeter lighting should illuminate well without black spots to assist camera images.
- Safes should be securely mounted and have time locks fitted.
- The physical security i.e. perimeter fencing gates & condition of access doors is of paramount importance.
- Staff should be alert and report suspicious activity around the premises and be extra vigilant at opening and closing times and promptly report same.
Managers of Commercial Premises i.e. Warehouses, Rural filling stations and shops are advised to review security arrangements and surveillance equipment in order to ‘target harden’ their premises and increase its ability to withstand robust criminal attack.
Business persons are also advised to agree a protocol with local Gardaí on responding to Intruder Alarm Activations on their premises.
The following Garda Stations are open on a 24/7 basis over the Christmas and New Year Holiday Period:
Letterkenny 074-9167100
Milford 074-9153060
Buncrana 074-9320540
Ballyshannon 071-9858530.
Remember 999 /112 in an Emergency.
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