Businesses in Loughrea are being warned by gardai to update security systems regularly as two break-ins in the past week could have been “dry runs” to test out alarms and other security features.
A spokesperson for Loughrea Garda Station said that alarms and phone lines were cut during burglaries at a garage in New Inn and at Loughrea Golf Club recently.
He warned that businesses do need to be extra vigilant.
The most recent break-in took place at Loughrea Golf Club last Tuesday night. According to gardai, the thieves gained entry through the back door and proceeded to ransack the premises, “breaking down every locked door” they came across.
A small amount of cash and other items including tools from the yard were taken. Gardai added that the burglary at the garage in New Inn last Saturday night was similar “in the type of damage caused”.
Loughrea gardai confirmed that there were “similarities” between the two burglaries because of the amount of criminal damage caused.
Gardai are warning the business community to monitor their premises and to review security systems on a regular basis.