Vacant hotel latest to be hit
EXTENSIVE flood damage was caused to a vacant hotel on the Ennis Road when thieves removed three copper cylinders, using an angle grinder. The incident occurred on Sunday, August 28, between 2pm and 5pm, when the raiders smashed a back window and stole three very large cylinders using the tool, and causing extensive flood damage.
Gardaí say that transport was necessary to move the items and that suspicious activity may have been noticed in the vicinity by members of the public.
Last week, copper was stolen from the walls and ceilings of the Ballyneety Golf Club, again causing extensive flood damage.
Gardaí are appealing to scrap metal dealers to be extra vigilant with who they deal with, stating that copper has become an increasingly valuable commodity among criminals.
The metal was also targeted in two separate incidents in the county.
Kilmallock gardaí are investigating the theft of a significant amount of copper from an RTE transmission site on Thursday, August 18.
The stolen metal was worth around €7,000, and was taken from an unmanned network station in Castletown Conyers, Kilmallock.
It is again believed that the theft would have necessitated the use of a goods vehicle to transport the material, which may have been spotted by those living in the vicinity.
On Friday, August 26 last, a large quantity of copper wire that was due to be installed in a power box, was stolen from the Pavilion building at the University of Limerick, between midnight and 8am.
Henry Street gardaí are investigating.
In May, Roxboro Road Inspector Derek Smart, advised the Limerick Post that copper cylinders were also being targeted in vacant and derelict houses throughout the county.
