This article is from page 6 of the 2011-12-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
THE ELDERLY living in isolated parts of the county are being warned that a scam is in operation, after a woman in her 80s was targeted in North Clare.
The woman, who lives in the Kilfenora area, was visited by a group of men last week. They looked for scrap and when she told them that none was available, they offered to take away rubbish, at a cost of € 10 for two bags. They took bags of rubbish and offered a receipt. The rubbish was later found dumped in Waterford. Gardaí are warning that the actions are not legitimate and say that gangs are taking rubbish and dumping it illegally on the side of the road or on lands. Personal documents found in the rubbish establish that this has taken place.
“It is a scam. People should not give rubbish to unauthorised people. They tend to target country houses. It could be a once-off but we want to alert people,” said the Crime Prevention Officer in the Clare Garda Division, Sergeant Joe Downey.
“It’s just an excuse for them to legitimise their presence. They could be surveying the house for a further crime,” he added.
Meanwhile, gardaí are investigating an incident in which a gate on lands at Monmore, Kilrush, was cut into three pieces, over the weekend. The incident happened between 4.30pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday.
The theft of a van from an address at Bealcragga, Connolly, is being investigated by gardaí in Ennis. The white Toyota Hiace was stolen between 10am on Saturday and 10am on Sunday.
Gardaí across the county are investigating a number of burglaries over the past week.
In one incident, four drums of cable were stolen from the Eircom building on Drumbiggle Road in Ennis, between 6pm last Tuesday and 8am the following morning. The premises was broken into possibly through the boundary railings of Ennis National School.
In Clarecastle, a house on the Lissane Road was targeted when thieves gained entry through the back door between 3am and 8am last Monday. Both the house and a car parked outside were targeted. A ladies handbag, which contained a small sum of money, was taken from the home, while a radio sat nav, car mats, an iPod and Oakley sunglasses were taken from the car.
Anyone with information on any of those crimes should contact their local garda station or Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.