Kilnamanagh residents furious over vehicle break-ins at shopping centre
By Laura Lyne
RESIDENTS voiced their concerns about local issues at a neighbourhood watch meeting in Kilnamanagh this week, and highlighted the importance of safety in shopping centre car parks.
Concerns surrounding CCTV in the car park of Kilnamanagh shopping centre, anchored by Dunnes Stores, was raised by residents at the meeting following a number of incidents of vehicles being broken into.
John Conroy, chairman of the Kilnamanagh residents’ association and neighbourhood watch, spoke to The Echo following the meeting.
He said: “Every shopping centre gets targeted like this at some point, but the main concern people have is surrounding two women who have been spotted in Kilnamanagh and in Liffey Valley and graveyards around the area.
“They have been targeting cars and parking beside people who are getting out of their car and throwing their valuables into the boot and locking it from a distance as they make their way into the shop.
“They’ve been catching the doors before they close so that it doesn’t lock and then they open and take the valuables while the person is inside the shop, thinking their car is safe.
“As a result we would encourage people to put their valuables away in the car before they leave the house.
“It’s not just an issue in Kilnamanagh, it’s everywhere. We’re asking people who see them to get the registration numbers on their car and report them.”
John also said that he spoke with the management of the shopping centre about the issue and said that they were “very concerned and very approachable” and were willing to “look at what they can do”.
Around 250 residents from Redwood, Parkhill, Elmcastle and Tamarisk turned out for the neighbourhood watch meetings during the week.
Other topics of discussion included the parking of cars belonging to passengers of the Luas at the Kilnamanagh roundabout and addressing the traffic congestion at the Mayberry Road/Belgard Road junction.
John said: “It’s showing the success of the neighbourhood watch in Kilnamanagh. Over 250 people have been at the meetings and are keeping their neighbours informed.
“There are 36 street co-ordinators in Kilnamanagh. The success is really down to the people themselves getting involved and participating on a daily basis.
“A lot of credit has to be given to our community garda Derek Reilly who has been giving great support and doing his best.”
The Echo contacted Dunnes Stores head office in relation to the CCTV at Kilnamanagh Shopping Centre, but a response was not received in time for print.
The Kilnamanagh Resident’s Association and Neighbourhood Watch posts regular updates which can be found on its Facebook page.
