Clare Gardaí are urging motorists to take extra steps to secure their vehicles following a spate of attempted car thefts in the past week.
Two incidents of unauthorised interference with cars were reported in Cusack Lawn and Cloughleigh Road in Ennis on Thursday, August 13th and Sunday the 16th, with another reported in a car park in the Ballina/Killaloe area on Tuesday, August 11th.
Drivers are being urged to lock their cars properly, remove valuables, park in well-lit areas and take steps to protect keyless entry fobs.
Sergeant Edel Burke says motorists should also consider extra security measures, such as steering wheel locks and pedal clamps, and check that their alarms and immobilisers are working properly.
Secure Your Car
– Lock doors and manually check them before walking away, as signal blockers can stop remote locking.
– Close windows and sunroofs fully, even for a short stop.
– Hide items like phones, sunglasses, coins, and bags in the boot, or take them with you.
– Wipe suction marks left by dashcams or sat-navs off the glass.
Smart Parking Habits
– Choose bright spots near foot traffic or under working lights.
– Look around for broken glass on the ground before leaving your car.
– Use secure lots with security guards or cameras when parking away from home.
Protect Your Keys
– Keep fobs safe away from exterior doors and windows.
– Use a Faraday bag for keyless entry fobs to block remote signal scanning.
– Never leave the engine running or keys inside an unattended vehicle.
Extra Deterrents
– Fit physical locks like steering wheel locks or pedal clamps.
– Check alarms and immobilisers work properly.
– Mark valuable items and record serial numbers.
