An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with Athlone Chamber of Commerce, will launch a new Business Watch Scheme on Friday, March 24, to combat the ever-rising crime and theft in local businesses around Athlone.
The Business Watch Scheme is a crime prevention programme designed and implemented around the country by An Garda Síochána. It follows the same priciples as Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in that the Gardaí and the community work together to prevent and reduce crime. In the Business Watch Scheme, the community concerned is the business community and in particular retail businesses.
Speaking ahead of the launch, the chamber president, Alan Shaw, encouraged local businesses to join the new scheme upon its launch.
“We would encourage as many businesses as possible to join this new scheme being launched by An Garda Síochána. Working together, we can reduce crime in our business community, especially in the areas of shoplifting and in the circulation of counterfeit notes. The scheme is easy and free to join so we are very hopeful that the scheme will experience a high level of uptake”
Athlone Chamber of Commerce CEO, Tommy Hogan, has confirmed that any local business can join the scheme by contacting the Gardaí at [email protected] with the title of your email being Athlone Business Watch Scheme, in the body of he email include your business name, name of business owner, name of the business contact phone number, email address if you wish and key holder name and contact number, if different from the main contact.
“We would like to acknowledge the Westmeath County Council for their support with this endeavour,” Mr Hogan concluded.
