1,400 vehicles seized by Gardai this year
By Maurice Garvey
UP TO 1,400 vehicles have been seized in the Tallaght and Rathfarnham policing district in 2019.
Most of the seizures are down to cars not insured or taxed.
1,400 cars have been seized in 2019
Speaking at the local Joint Policing Meeting on Friday evening, Superintendent Ian Lackey, Tallaght Garda Station, said the seized cars are often used by offending motorists “for other purposes.”
“Some might criticise us for that (resources put into seizures), but if you are hit by an uninsured driver, you would think differently about it,” he said.
“The Chief Supt (Finbarr Murphy) has tasked younger members to focus on this.”
Statistics at the meeting cover the DMR South area in 2019, up until November 22.
Meanwhile, theft from motor vehicles has increased slightly in DMR South this year.
In 2019 there have been 318 reported cases on theft from vehicle, up from 283 cases in 2018.
“Often the car is left open,” said Supt Lackey.
Chief Supt Finbarr Murphy, Blanchardstown Garda Station referenced the theft of catalytic converters, of which gardai have made a public appeal.
“It takes minutes to take off catalytic converters,” said Chief Supt Murphy.
“They jack it up, it’s very crude, cut it clean off. There has been an appeal on Crimecall, and we intend to target the Red Cow hotel for a public information briefing.”
Thieves cut off part of the exhaust system to cash in on the rising value of precious metals contained in them, including rhodium, palladium and platinum.
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