Theft of cars more than doubles

IMPORTED cars that do not have immobilisers or alarms, are attributed by gardai to an increase of vehicle thefts.

Theft/ unauthorised taking of vehicles in Tallaght more than doubled in 2022 – with 213 such cases last year.

In Lucan, unauthorised taking of UT of vehicle was up 146 per cent in 2022, with 32 such cases last year.

Speaking at the recent Joint Policing Meeting, Clondalkin Superintendent Anthony Twomey said a lot of vehicle thefts in his district are happening at commercial centres.

“We are liasing with commercial operators, the Luas is one area where we had a spike in them,” said Supt Twomey.

Superintendent Tomás Gormley, Tallaght Garda Station, said they have identified certain makes and models that seem to be imported.

These cars are particularly attractive for juveniles to steal.

Supt Gormley said there was a similar situation here 20/25 years ago, with European cars which “didn’t have immobiliser and didn’t have alarms when they were purchased”.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing problems now with a select number of imported cars which are being sold without an immobiliser or sold without an alarm. So we are trying to tackle that,” he said.

Supt Gormley said gardai have identified a number of people responsible and are trying to expediate them through the juveniles diversion scheme and criminal justice system.