Organised crime gang involved in Tulsk and Ballinagare burglaries

An organised crime gang was involved in a recent spate of burglaries in the Tulsk and Ballinagare areas, a Garda Superintendent has confirmed.

A meeting of the Roscommon Joint Policing Committee (JPC) heard last week that a definite line of inquiry regarding the burglaries was being investigated.

At the meeting owners of Airbnb’s were warned to be on the lookout for anything suspicious with bookings. The meeting heard that criminals were hiring Airbnb’s for a week or two “and conducting their burglary spree” during that time.

Cllr Liam Callaghan sought at an update from senior Gardaí on the investigations into the local burglaries.

Superintendent Tom Colsh confirmed that an organised crime gang was involved in those offences.

“We have set up an incident room and have put out a public appeal. We have gotten great feedback and we want to thank everybody who gave information. We are following a definite line of inquiry and that investigation is very much ongoing. It is being taken very seriously,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon said that this investigation had been combined with a neighbouring division that had also been affected.

During the meeting Superintendent John Fitzgerald gave details of the annual campaign, Operation Thor, which targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders, particularly burglary and theft offences.

“It is a national campaign. It has been running since November 2015 over the winter months. It has resulted in a substantial drop in burglaries,” he said.

He said that a special task force had been set up in the last number of weeks to improve Garda visibility throughout the county and to target areas we consider vulnerable for burglary offences.

“Over the last three weeks, that unit has carried out over 70 extra check points and patrols.” He said that the unit was operating in the Boyle, Clonark, Roscommon, and Castlerea areas.

Citing studies, he said that an area that had seen one burglary was likely to experience another, and this was factored into the operation.

“The ‘Lock up, Light Up’ campaign runs in tandem to Operation Thor. It is hard to believe but burglars go in the front door of some houses,” said Superintendent Fitzgerald.

He added that burglars also gained entry through back doors, and the back and front windows.

“They are targeting cash and jewellery in the majority of burglaries, as well as electronic devices. Mobiles, they’ll take them as well, but they don’t like items that can be tracked.” He said that nationwide almost half of the burglaries occurred between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. and urged people to stay alert. He also urged them if they saw anything suspicious to call 999.

The chief superintendent said that a national trend was developing where criminals would rent out an Airbnb for a week or two, “and conduct their burglary spree” during that time.

“We had one particular gang in Mayo, and it is noticeable since we thwarted them that there has been very few burglaries since then,” he said.

He warned members of the public with Airbnb’s to be aware of this trend.

“And if they are suspicious, contact the local Gardaí,” was his advice.