by Louise Doyle
CAR owners are being urged to step up security measures following a theft and spate of damage to cars in Letterkenny University Hospital’s car park and in Ramelton.
Gardaí are investigating the theft of a blue Toyota Sienta with a partial registration of ‘171D62’ that was stolen from LUH ‘s car park on Saturday, June 7 between 4am, at the time it was parked, and 8.25am when it was located crashed into a ditch at Manorview Park, Letterkenny.
Elsewhere, on Saturday, June 7, between 4am and 9am, the driver’s window of a Toyota Aqua car was smashed. It is not believed that the car was entered.
In both incidents, gardaí are appealing for dash cam footage from the area of the hospital car park. Any relevant information should be passed to gardaí in Letterkenny on (074) 9167100.
Meanwhile, between Friday, June 6 at 8pm and the following day, a Toyota Scion was damaged in the area of The Mall, Ramelton. A window was smashed and the lock was interfered with.
Between 11.30pm on Friday, June 6 and 10.30am the following day a window of a Nissan Note was damaged at Castle Street, Ramelton. No entry was gained to the car.
Elsewhere, sometime between Friday, June 6 at 9.30pm and the following day at 11am, an attempt was made to pull the front bumper off a Lexus car parked at Castle Street in Ramelton, which caused it to crack. The spoiler was removed from the rear of the car.
Anyone with relevant information or dash-cam footage to get in touch with gardaí in Milford on (074) 9153060. The Garda Confidential Line can be contacted on 1800 666 111.
JAPANESE IMPORTED VEHICLES TARGETED
Meanwhile, gardaí have said they have noticed an increase in the targeting of imported vehicles, particularly Japanese imported vehicles, which may be due to the lack of security features in many of them.
“For instance, many second-hand car imports do not have a fully fitted car alarm system or are without a fitted immobiliser. This makes them vulnerable to hot-wiring. If the model has a keyless ignition it has proven possible to pick up a signal from the key fob from within the house where it is parked,” a garda spokesperson said.
Issuing advice on how car buyers and owners can take actions to decrease the risk of theft of their vehicle, a garda spokesperson said: “Cars imported from international markets are not automatically manufactured with the same security features as cars manufactured for the European market.
“We advise buyers and owners of vehicles to confirm the security features of import vehicles, especially to check if there is an in-built immobiliser and to consider additional security options.
“Buyers should check the security features of their vehicles and make decisions relating to augmenting security. For cars without an immobiliser, the addition of a steering wheel lock or chain should be considered.”
Gardaí also advise car owners not to leave valuables on show, lock doors and close windows, fit an alarm, retrofit an Immobiliser or use a physical lock, install a trakcer and park car where there is CCTV, when possible.
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