Cork residents are cautioned against leaving cars running unattended as thieves target estates
Cork: It’s a chilly morning, and you step outside to warm up your car, then head back in for a quick coffee. But what if thieves are lurking nearby?
People in Cork are being warned not to leave their cars running unattended. There’s been a rise in thefts from neighborhoods around the city.
A local Facebook group, Glanmire Noticeboard, is buzzing with alerts from folks who’ve either had their cars stolen or seen suspicious characters hanging around. One car taken from Glanmire was later found abandoned near a cemetery.
One person shared that they left their car running outside while they went back inside for just a few minutes. They even had a doorbell camera keeping an eye on things, but that didn’t stop the thieves.
“I was watching the car on my phone when I noticed headlights behind it,” they said. “Thinking it was a neighbor, I stepped outside to check the icy conditions. But as soon as I opened the door, a guy jumped in and took off!”
Another resident mentioned that two cars rolled into their estate that same morning, seemingly scouting for vehicles left running. They were sure the thieves were checking for cars being defrosted.
As CorkBeo pointed out, 2024 has been a record year for car thefts in Cork, the worst in over a decade.
In the past 18 months, areas like Ballincollig, Carrigaline, and parts of Cork city have seen thieves roaming estates looking for unlocked cars.
While these crooks are mainly after valuables like cash and electronics, some cars have been stolen outright. Gardaí have shared tips on keeping vehicles safe, noting that many victims simply forgot to lock their cars.
Garda Oonagh Collins from Clonakilty Garda Station said, “We’ve talked about this before, but it keeps happening. It’s what we call ‘opportunity crime’ where people check if cars are locked or not, and often they’re left unlocked, making it easy for thieves.”
“We’re urging everyone to secure their property, park in well-lit areas, and take valuables out of sight. If you can’t take them, at least hide them in the boot,” she advised on C103’s Cork Today Show.
