GARDAÍ in Donegal have issued a warning to local rural business owners after a spate of incidents at shops and filling stations.
Owners and operators particularly in rural areas of shops and filling stations are urged to be aware of current crime trends where filling stations have been targeted in the North Western Region.
Gardaí said the warning has been prompted by intelligence obtained and evaluated by them which indicates the presence of criminals attached to organised criminal groupings (OCG) in this jurisdiction.
Cash in ATM’s and office safes will be targeted as will tobacco products.
These premises are targeted by criminal gangs who will conduct surveillance on targeted properties and will have visited same prior to the attack.
Owners and managers are advised to review security arrangements and equipment to ‘target harden’ their premises and increase its ability to withstand robust criminal attack.
Sergeant Paul Wallace Divisional Crime Prevention Officer based at Letterkenny Garda Station said, ‘We have noted the resurgence across the North Western Region of this crime type in recent weeks by OCG’s.’
“The OCG activity is focused on in the main rural shops and filling stations, these people are well equipped and are very determined to gain access to properties so it follows business persons are requested to review their security arrangements and take steps where necessary,” said Sergeant Wallace.
A Garda spokesperson said these criminal groups are operating by cutting perimeter fencing in advance to afford fast entry and escape, manhole covers which may allow access to phone / alarm /internet signalling will be checked and tampered with and vehicles will not be observed near the targeted property but may be parked in the vicinity such as in fields.
Neighbouring properties, farm sheds and yards, may be targeted to source implements such as ladders and sledgehammers, while GSM Blockers will be used by the OCG to disrupt or block alarm signals.
Gardaí believe that entry will be discreet at the rear or via the roof while the OCG will use two –way radios to communicate and will move by crawling through the premises.
In the event of an alarm activation they may remain close by to observe shop owners attending and arrival of Gardaí, while any accessible CCTV hard drives will be removed and dumped.
In an attempt to deter these groups, Gardaí are advising businesses to check their intruder alarm systems and ensure it has a back up signalling facility via GSM / Radio back up link in order that they can operate in the event of a telephone line outage.
A spokesperson for Gardaí said, “CCTV systems should only be installed by competent registered persons.
“Hard drives have to be secured or have a back up facility.
“If the recording equipment is not secure – you may as well have no cctv equipment at all.
“Roof and attic spaces should have wire screening to prevent physical access and have monitoring capability by the alarm system.
“Roller shutters must be properly secured and if electrically operated have a remote power outage/kill switch.
“Lighting should operate internally in conjunction with alarm activation to draw attention to the premises. Perimeter lighting should illuminate well without black spots to assist camera images.
“Safes should be securely mounted and have time locks fitted, while the physical security such as a perimeter fencing gates and condition of access doors is of paramount importance.
“Staff should be alert and report suspicious activity around the premises and be extra vigilant at opening and closing times.”
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