Get 'Streetwise' in March, say gardaí

The Garda Commissioner has designated March as a month where special emphasis is put on personal safety.

Sgt John Connolly, Crime Prevention Officer for Westmeath, said the campaign is aimed at, though not exclusively, 18-to-39-year-olds.

He said: “We should remember that there is a higher instance of thefts and assaults in the period between March 16 and March 18.

“This is presumably because people socialise more, consume more alcohol and become less streetwise,” said Sgt Connolly.

He asked people to be aware of some important statistics, such as the following.

A mobile phone is stolen in 65% of thefts and robberies.

The majority of victims of phone theft are aged between 18 and 39. Two out of every five thefts and robberies occur between 10am and 4am between Friday and Sunday.

The majority of assault victims are male. “It is not uncommon for us to receive reports of bags or phones being stolen while young people are walking home or while in clubs or pubs,” said Sgt Connolly.

“Our strategy will involve the Community Policing Units in Mullingar and Athlone giving talks to groups, visiting the vulnerable and having a number of public stands with ‘Streetwise’ and personal safety literature.”

Should any member of the public require further information or require leaflets or specific advice they can contact Sgt Connolly or the Community Policing units at both Athlone and Mullingar.