This article is from page 16 of the 2012-03-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
MANAGEMENT at Ennis Golf Club have moved to further improve security measures after a spate of recent break-ins.
The club, which has around 1,300 members, has been the target of three break-ins in recent months.
On Wednesday, February 22, the club was broken into by breaking a window. Nothing was stolen on that occasion.
On February 12 the cash register was stolen from the club shop when a person gained access to the premises by breaking the side window.
Damage has been repeatedly caused to windows at the club shop, a situation one committee member has described as “very annoying and frustrating”.
The premises is covered by CCTV and now management at the club have improved lighting at the front and rear of the club in an attempt to ward off intruders.
Honourary secretary John Cullinane said, “We have had three at least since last December. We don’t keep cash in the bar, the restaurant or the golf shop. Recently the breakins have been at the golf shop. The policy there is that we leave the till open so people can see that there is no money in it.”
Last year the club installed a new security system aimed at ensuring greater protection for staff and members. Members must now type in an access code at the main entrance door in order to gain access to the clubhouse at night. The measures were introduced last summer following incidents where intruders broke into the golf club.
Mr Cullinane continued, “10 days ago some guy broke the window but the alarm went off and he ran away. The guards told us that he faced into one of the cameras so they got him on CCTV. We’re looking at what else we can do in terms of security. The CCTV has been fairly good but when they get to the building they are ducking and diving trying to avoid it.”
He added, “There is a cost to the club every time that something happens. There is replacement cost to replace a window every time they break it. It’s very frustrating and annoying. We’ve had to replace the window several times.”