Gardai were on the beat for ‘retail day of action’

TALLAGHT gardaí were on the beat in a number of local shopping centres on Saturday, including The Square and Citywest, for a ‘retail day of action’.

The aim of the initiative, which is held yearly, is to increase the presence of gardaí in local shopping districts to deter would-be shoplifters.

The gardaí also manned checkpoints at the shopping centres, where they checked motorists for tax and insurance.

Community garda sergeant at Tallaght Garda Station, Emer Lamon, told The Echo: “We had guards who were permanently in The Square on Saturday.

“We had mobile patrols at shops in Belgard, Aylesbury, Kilnamanagh and Airton Road, and we had the dog unit and the mounted unit out.

Gardai on horseback outside The Plaza Hotel

“It was a very successful day – we had no reports of shoplifting.

“We had a stand in The Square where we gave out leaflets about crime prevention and securing your home and your vehicle.

“[The retail day of action] is something that we try to do every year.”

Sgt Lamon added that the guards received positive feedback from members of the public on the day, and that there was a strong uptake for crime prevention advice at the Garda stand in The Square.