GARDAÍ in Limerick have appealed for information about a number of “dangerous” joyriding incidents after a number of cars were stolen and set on fire.
Gardaí said the first of three joyriding incidents involved a white Toyota Aqua with a 151 Dublin registration, which they said was stolen from Liosan, Sheehan’s Road, Newcastle West, County Limerick, at 4am on March 14.
“It was driven into Limerick City and driven at speed around the city where it was involved in multiple acts of dangerous driving between Thursday and Saturday,” explained Garda John Finnerty of Henry Street Garda Station.
“It was eventually abandoned and burnt out at Old Francis Street at 8.40pm on Saturday evening.”
The second car, a silver Toyota Aqua with a 152 County Clare registration, was stolen sometime between 8pm on March 14 and 8.40am the following morning from St James Mews on Alphonsis Street in the city.
“This car was also driven at high speed and involved in various acts of dangerous driving around the city over the last past few days. It was recovered last Sunday, St Patrick’s Day, at Well Field, Garyowen,” Garda Finnerty explained.
The third car, a blue Mazda Demio with a 141 Dublin registration, was stolen sometime between 12pm and 2pm on March 16 from Shelbourne Road.
“This car was also involved in considerable acts of dangerous driving around the city last Saturday afternoon. The thief subsequently crashed the car at College Park, Corbally, at 3.38pm on Saturday,” said Garda Finnerty.
Garda Finnerty said that the thefts come amid a “noticeable spike” in thieves targeting a certain type of cars in Limerick.
“Thieves are targeting certain cars to steal and to subsequently use for joy riding, they are currently targeting second-hand Japanese imports as, unlike in the EU, Japanese cars are not required to fit an immobiliser.”
“There has been a noticeable spike in the theft of Mazda Demio models, the Toyota Aqua model, and the Toyota Vitz model in recent weeks in the Limerick Garda Division,” he said.
Appealing for information, Garda Finnerty said: “If you did come across either of these three cars, or if you have any information on who was driving them, then we would like to hear from you.”
Members of the public with information about the car thefts are asked to contact Henry Street Garda Station at 061 212 400.
