Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

'We want to attract people to the region. Cars getting broken into like this does not look good'

The problem of theft from cars in the Wicklow Mountains is one that persists each and every year, say gardaí.

20170624_203313 Wicklow Uplands Council Wicklow Uplands Council

THE WICKLOW MOUNTAINS, part of Ireland’s “Ancient East”, are fast becoming one of Ireland’s most popular tourist spots.

Thousands of overseas visitors make the trek through the mountains to visit sites such as Glendalough and Powerscourt, while residents of nearby counties also make the journey to take in some of the scenery and nature trails throughout the region.

There are dozens of small parking spots dotted around the mountainous trails and, at a large number of them, is a sign warning people not to leave valuables in their car.

IMG_3532 Sean Murray / TheJournal.ie Sean Murray / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

Chief Superintendent John Quirke, at Bray Garda Station, told TheJournal.ie that the issue of thefts in cars in the area is “an ongoing issue [they're] trying to tackle”.

“It’s amazing the number of cars that are broken into that aren’t locked,” he said. “But we see a lot of tourist crime too.

These are cars that are obviously belonging to tourists – perhaps a clear sign that it is a rented car – being targeted by roving gangs in areas heavily populated with tourists. The Military Road from Glencree to Sally Gap, Glendalough, Powerscourt and the Sugarloaf are places that have been targeted.

Local councillor Joe Behan told TheJournal.ie that “it’s a problem every year”.

“Anytime there’s good weather in all of the tourist spots, it happens,” he said. Behan said that police and local community groups are trying to be proactive about the problem, with the issue being discussed at joint policing community meetings every three months or so.

The independent councillor said that it is believed gangs monitor the area at certain times of the year for the specific purpose of targeting vehicles to steal from.

Chief Superintendent Quirke said that there have been quite a number of arrests for these thefts, and that the culprits are mainly members of gangs from outside the county.

“They’ve come from Tallaght, Finglas, Ballymun and Mulhuddart,” he said. “They’re using the motorway network to a large extent, and they’d be familiar with the back roads.”

He said that extra resources allocated from Operation Thor were being used by the gardaí to tackle the crime problem in this region. Technology that alerts gardaí when a specific car registration is spotted on a certain section of road is also used to arrest the culprits.

Brian Dunne, from the Wicklow Uplands Council, said that the group has received similar reports in the last few weeks.

“There was an occasion some weeks ago where seven cars were broken into,” he told TheJournal.ie. “It is really important for people not to be leaving valuables in the car.”

Behan said cars left idle in these often remote areas means that “opportunists” who spot valuables in the car break the windows to get in and steal them.

From the authorities point of view, it is a difficult problem to solve, the councillor said.

“While it would be great to have more security, it’s not practical,” he said. “There are so many parking spots in the region.”

Everyone we spoke to advised motorists not to leave any valuables visible in the car, if leaving on a hike or out of eyeshot of the car for an extended period of time.

20170624_203501 Wicklow Uplands Council Wicklow Uplands Council

Behan said: “One issue is people leaving items such as iPads, mobile phones etc in their cars. Another is simply forgetting to lock their cars. You’d be shocked at the number of people who do it.”

They also said that having this as a persistent problem in the mountains would not be beneficial in efforts to attract tourism in the area. Dunne said:

If recreational users are coming in and out of Wicklow, it’s not the image you want to project. Hiking and walking is such an important part of our offering here.

Behan added: “I can honestly say there’s a case for having CCTV of these areas, but it’d be very expensive. I think we may have to look into it.

It’s great that people want to visit this area, but we urge them to just be careful.

Quirke, meanwhile, said that having gardaí on the ground is the strongest deterrent to criminals in this region.

He cited the recent search that took place in the region after the death of Patricia O’Connor in May.

“For over 10 days,” he said, “we had a sizable garda presence in the area. We were heavily deployed around there searching for body parts.

There was not one break in during that time. It shows what happens when we have our feet on the ground there.

Read: The Irish Air Corps will colour the skies above the Liffey today

Read: Driver to face court after gardaí clock car travelling at over 190 km/h

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
42 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BRIAN MCCARTHY
    Favourite BRIAN MCCARTHY
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 12:13 AM

    I left 2 wks ago. Fully vaxed since 17 June. 3* apartment €370 a wk for both of us. €60 meal for 2, inc starters, main and bottle of wine. €1.30 glass of wine €2.50 pint. 28C past 2 wks. Ah sure no, i shouldn’t have.

    233
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sophie
    Favourite Sophie
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 3:17 AM

    @BRIAN MCCARTHY: Only 28, you’d get hotter weather in Ireland

    374
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 6:39 PM

    @Sophie: Things do tend to improve after people leave!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Gorry
    Favourite Paul Gorry
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 1:26 AM

    Leaving on a jet plane? Very memorable song by John Denver, unfortunately many parents will be playing this song in the next few years as there children take flight to a better life. Hopefully iam wrong.

    137
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iohanx
    Favourite iohanx
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 7:59 AM

    @Paul Gorry:

    That’s been par for course for generations. Many will travel for lots of reasons. Many will come back also to raise a family. Not rocket science. Ireland’s a great country to live in by many standards, why else would so many return etc.

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Lough
    Favourite James Lough
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 8:43 AM

    @iohanx: you’re having a laugh – great country to live in by many standards lol. Mica scandal in Donegal, housing shortage, vulture funds buying up estates, government is shambles, cost of living…

    73
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Furey
    Favourite Paul Furey
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 8:55 AM

    @James Lough: and no other country has their scandals? Maybe you should try living elsewhere.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Quirke
    Favourite Paul Quirke
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 10:25 AM

    @James Lough: There is a jet plane that you can leave on apparently…

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim Quigley
    Favourite Tim Quigley
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 10:51 AM

    @Paul Gorry: what about Garth Brooks ‘If tomorrow never comes’ . You might prefer that one.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stan Papusa
    Favourite Stan Papusa
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 11:52 AM

    @Paul Furey: That’s false equivalence.
    “Others have [list the issue here] too” doesn’t imply it’s equally bad everywhere. Nor does it mean nothing should be done about it. It’s been used to death whether the subject is covid, cost of living, corruption, healthcare, housing, etc.

    As well as that, it’s time to move past “the door is open, don’t let anyone stop you”. Eastern European governments have had a similar attitude towards their citizens for nearly 40 years, and the effects are sorely felt. Hardly anyone is saying that now…

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iohanx
    Favourite iohanx
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 12:10 PM

    @James Lough:

    There are 3 kinds of people …

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Lough
    Favourite James Lough
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 1:35 PM

    @Paul Furey: l do live elsewhere lol

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles Coughlan
    Favourite Charles Coughlan
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 12:11 AM

    No Covid-19 digital certificate received, 3 weeks since my 2nd jab not that im flying anywhere anytime soon.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Elaine Phelan
    Favourite Elaine Phelan
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 6:38 AM

    @Charles Coughlan: you should contact them. I got mine emailed within a week of my 2nd jab. If you registered on the HSE site for the vaccine then it would have been emailed, so check your spam folder first

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sarah Heaton
    Favourite Sarah Heaton
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 9:09 AM

    @Charles Coughlan: If you got it via the HSE vaccination centres yeah, you should have had it emailed to you by now, so contact them. However, if you got it through your GP (say due to underlying conditions etc) then you’ll be getting a physical “passport” from them rather than the email, and it’s them you’ll need to poke. It’s also likely to be that bit more delayed as they get their own ducks in a row, considering the certs have literally only been available since last Monday.

    11
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thegreatdefector
    Favourite thegreatdefector
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 9:14 AM

    @Charles Coughlan: check your junk mail. Got mine 4 days after second jab

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Franny Ando
    Favourite Franny Ando
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 10:06 AM

    @Sarah Heaton: I got my vaccination through my G.P. Got my covid passport by email last Monday. Bit surprised by that but maybe others should check their mail just in case.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Franny Ando
    Favourite Franny Ando
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 10:09 AM

    @Charles Coughlan: Check your email just in case. I got my vaccination through G.P but covid cert came by email last Monday.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Gorry
    Favourite Paul Gorry
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 12:56 AM

    That John Denver song will resonate to a lot of parents over the next few years as there children take flight. Sad.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SmallbutMighty
    Favourite SmallbutMighty
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 7:46 AM

    @Paul Gorry: I encourage my children to travel and live abroad. It makes them more independent and emotionally intelligent. Nothing sad at all about your children exploring the world and understanding other customs and cultures. Living down the road from Mammy all their lives is something I find sad.

    175
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Franny Ando
    Favourite Franny Ando
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 8:34 AM

    @SmallbutMighty: Maybe that’s their choice. What’s extremely sad and should concern you more is how many will HAVE to leave. Not by choice but by government who has made it impossible to live here. Taxed to oblivion, never able to have their own home, extortionate rent, lack of childcare, cost of education, inadequate healthcare unless you can pay a fortune for private cover. The list is endless. There’s a lot more important issues facing our children then slinging a back pack on and travelling for fun.

    34
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SmallbutMighty
    Favourite SmallbutMighty
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 8:46 AM

    @Franny Ando: those are all problems that face people all over the world. Living abroad whether by choice or necessity has many many positives in the growth of an individual. There’s an awful sense of entitlement in a lot of Irish these days.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Franny Ando
    Favourite Franny Ando
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 9:08 AM

    @SmallbutMighty: Nothing to do with entitlement. Living abroad should never be a necessity because you can’t afford to live in your own country. Highest interest rates, one of the most expensive countries in Europe etc so not quite like others. Emigration should be a choice not a necessity to have a decent life.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joey
    Favourite Joey
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 9:32 AM

    @Franny Ando: Franny, the woman’s original post relates to experiencing new cultures and growing as an individual. Why did u hijack the post and make it political?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Franny Ando
    Favourite Franny Ando
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 10:20 AM

    @Joey: All for people broading their horizons. Travel is wonderful experience. No need for the disparaging comment about living close to “Mammies”. Not everyone wants to live abroad a lot want to rear their families in their native country. Definitely no one should have to go abroad to have a better life. If you can’t see that many are being forced to leave this country to do that then you are part of the problem.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SmallbutMighty
    Favourite SmallbutMighty
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 11:09 AM

    @Franny Ando: everyone has to do what they have to do to get by. If that means moving abroad to find work, access better education or afford a house so be it. No one is forcing you it is always a choice. It’s a choice that people all over the world make. My original post was referring to the comment trying to trigger fear that everyone’s kids are being forced to leave and it’s all doom and gloom. I’m merely pointing out that emigration is a good thing for personal growth. Its something we should be encouraging our kids to do. Not making them feel they are being forced out because that breeds bitterness which is unhelpful in
    any society.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute emer mcdonnell
    Favourite emer mcdonnell
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 12:05 PM

    @SmallbutMighty: just out of curiosity why do you think its sad if some children are quite happy living their whole lives close to their parents?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SmallbutMighty
    Favourite SmallbutMighty
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 5:38 PM

    @emer mcdonnell: because its a big old world out there and over the years I find the people who have travelled or worked abroad are generally more open minded and emotionally intelligent. Nothing wrong with settling at home but before you settle go spend sometime somewhere else. Again I’m referring to the original posters attempt to trigger fear in parents that their kids are being forced out. I’m simply highlighting that emigration does not have to be seen as a negative.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Stapleton
    Favourite David Stapleton
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 2:12 AM

    For those thinking of travelling to France, you will soon have to have a QR code or proof of having had covid-19 or a negative PCR test – within the last 3 days, to get into restaurants, cinemas and even supermarkets.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute lelookcoco
    Favourite lelookcoco
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 2:00 PM

    @David Stapleton: Thanks David. Does our EU Covid cert suffice for indoor dining in France?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Stapleton
    Favourite David Stapleton
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 2:16 PM

    @lelookcoco: I would think so but that is just my guess. I would check with the relevant government office in Ireland.

    1
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Stapleton
    Favourite David Stapleton
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 5:52 PM

    @lelookcoco: I have checked here in France as the QR code is now EU wide, I had to go into the App I was using and update the QR code I had already put there. It took all of 5 seconds. I am using the Anticovid app I downloaded from Playstore on my Samsung. From what I can see, the QR code just updates with a country of origin and an option to click on a box if you are crossing borders. It should/might be the same for Ireland. Good luck.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute whitewater
    Favourite whitewater
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 9:41 AM

    Left Ireland “illegally” a month ago with about 300 cases. Coming back legally today with over 1000. You couldn’t make this shiz up…

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vlad Eire
    Favourite Vlad Eire
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 12:18 AM

    Can’t believe you said “ducks in a row”

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jeff Nolan
    Favourite Jeff Nolan
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 8:02 AM

    What’s the story with children between 6 and 12 ?

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Hunt
    Favourite Brian Hunt
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 12:26 AM

    I’ve the digital Covid cert downloaded to the HSE Covid health check app but there isn’t an option to add it to the wallet? iPhone 11

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute motojack
    Favourite motojack
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 7:12 AM

    @Brian Hunt: your fecked so stay in ireland is your only option

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Diskin
    Favourite Paul Diskin
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 7:33 AM

    @Brian Hunt: https://covid19passbook.netlify.app/#scan

    #yourwelcome

    12
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Diskin
    Favourite Paul Diskin
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 7:33 AM

    @Brian Hunt: https://covid19passbook.netlify.app/#scan
    Your welcome

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Hunt
    Favourite Brian Hunt
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 8:05 AM

    @Paul Diskin: that’s exactly what i wanted. Thank you

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 6:52 PM

    @Paul Diskin: Thanks for the link. (I backtracked to the link minus the /#scan to find the Import Picture option & used the preview to take a screenshot.) https://covid19passbook.netlify.app/

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheál Ó Conchúir
    Favourite Micheál Ó Conchúir
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 10:12 AM

    As expected, the green travel cert helpline is non-functional ;(

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stan Papusa
    Favourite Stan Papusa
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 1:36 PM

    It’s all good news…
    The more are leaving for Spain, Portugal and Italy, the less crowded beaches here will be. Never made sense to me even before covid, but I won’t argue with people…

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Disillusioned
    Favourite Disillusioned
    Report
    Jul 19th 2021, 5:19 PM

    A little confused if anyone can help, if you have the covid passport do you still need to get a negative test before flight to Spain?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds