This article is from page 14 of the 2011-06-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
THIEVES are turning up the heat on home-owners with reports of thefts of copper heating cylinders and home heating oil.
A combination of the rising cost of heating oil and the increasing value of copper is leaving householders in hot water as criminals target both commodities around the county.
Thieves have targeted homes in East Clare and syphoned off large quantities of home-heating oil from unlocked tanks.
A Garda spokseperson said that oil is now so expensive that it is worth the thieves while to wait for the cover of darkness to get at the tanks.
In some instances oil was stolen while the householder was at work or it was taken from unoccupied holiday homes.
Gardaí are advising that people whose tanks are outdoors and accessible should consider extra security precautions, such as gettig a lock for their tank.
The fact that most tanks are in back gardens and, in rural areas in particular, often easy to get at while the house is empty is making oil theft easier.
In other incidents, copper cylinders have been removed from homes in the county, mostly while the houses are empty.
And to add to the householder’s difficulties, removing the cyclinder can result in serious flooding. Gardaí believe that the cylinders are being stolen for re-sale or for the valuable copper.