Gardai warn local businesses in Donegal

Gardai have issued a warning to local business owners in Donegal. The warning comes after the targeting and burglaries at a number of business premises in the county during the past week. Owners / managers are advised to review security arrangements and equipment to ‘target harden’ their premises & increase its ability to withstand robust criminal attack.

Sergeant Paul Wallace Divisional Crime Prevention Officer based at Letterkenny Garda Station stated ‘Commercial premises in various parts of the county have been the target of criminals on recent nights, 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.

Business premises require the following as a basic requirement:

Intruder alarm systems should only be installed by persons who operate from an established business address that can be verified & registered with the P.S.A – Private Security Authority. Information at www.psa.ie

Intruder Alarm systems in business premises should have 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. This is a basic requirement.

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.

The physical security i.e. perimeter fencing gates & 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.

The public should be aware that the Gardai do not monitor alarm systems but provide a response if the system meets the requirements of the Intruder Alarm Policy. Not all Alarm Installations are to this standard.

When investing in security equipment remember quality & efficiency comes at a price & used properly installed and used will help you to beat the criminal.

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