Cops on the trail of copper thieves

Gardaí in Mullingar are investigating two burglaries of copper piping which took place over the weekend, in which forty bales valued at €3,000 were stolen from one premises at Lynn Industrial Estate over the weekend.Meanwhile in another incident, copper was taken from PVC piping at a business premises on Pearse Street, Mullingar on Wednesday, August 18 last.The piping was fixed to a wall in the car park of the business premises. A spokesperson for An Gardaí Siochana said:“Copper is worth a lot of money at the minute and this just goes to show the lengths people will go to get it.”This comes in a week where Gardaí say they are investigating a high number of burglaries Mullingar and in the surrounding areas.Another business premises in Clonmore was targeted, with thieves getting away with €3000 worth of office technology. The burglary which took place over the weekend, saw the loss of a number of laptops and palmtops. However there was no sign of forced entry according to Gardaí.On Saturday last, cash and a double-barrel shotgun were taken from a house in Crookedwood overnight. Spirits and cash were stolen from a house in St. Etchen’s Court, Kinnegad on Friday. Gardaí believe the burglary took place around 11am.A small amount of cash was taken from a house in Oakcrest, Mullingar on Friday, August 20 last. Burglars gained entry through an unlocked back door. In a separate incident, golf clubs, a Sony hi-fi and a television were taken from a house in Dalton Park, Mullingar. The house had been left vacant between Thursday and Saturday last week, however there was no sign of forced entry according to Gardaí.Cash and jewellery were stolen from a vacant house at Hightown, Coralstown on Wednesday, August 18, between 3 and 5 p.m. Entry was gained via a window. Also on Wednesday, household items were taken from a house at Killough Cross, Delvin. Four males in a silver Transit Van were seen acting suspiciously in the area. The burglary is believed to have taken place around 2.30 in the day.Elsewhere a €2,500 17 foot light olive green rowing boat, with a dark green stripe, was stolen from Tullaghan at Lough Owel last week.Engine stolenGardaí in Finea are investigating an incident in which two men, one with an Irish accent and the other with a foreign accent, rented a boat and lifejackets last week, but never returned. The boat was discovered later but the engine and life jackets were gone.Stone windowsills were taken from a derelict house at Dysart some time between August 12 and August 18. Castletown Gardaí are investigating.A stereo and bumper were stolen from an MPV at Grange Village at 2am on Thursday. The windows and wing mirrors were also broken off the car.€500 worth of tools were taken from a van in the car park of a business premises on the Mullingar Road out of Kinnegad last week. Two cordless drills, a satnav and other tools were taken from the van some time between 8.30 in the morning and 10.30pm.Gardaí in Kinnegad are also investigating an incident in which a truck load of hay was set on fire on Wednesday last on the old Galway Road. The driver stepped out to buy chips, but returned to find the trailer load of hay was on fire at a loss of €1000.