GARDAÍ are appealing to people across Limerick city and county to be careful of their own personal security, with recent report of new figures showing that assaults have increased in the month of December.
Sergeant Michael Gallagher, Community Policing Officer at Mayorstone Garda Station in Limerick City warned that “December typically sees an increase in (assault) incidents”.
“Assaults increased by 11 per cent from November to December in 2023, and 12 per cent in 2024,” Sergeant Gallagher said.
“40 per cent of assault-causing-harm incidents occur on weekends. Saturday is the most common day for robbery-from-the-person incidents.”
With party season in full swing, Sergeant Gallagher said that local Gardaí are “asking everyone to be ‘PLANS’ and streetwise”.
Explained the abbreviation stands for: “P – Plan your night out and your way home. L – Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return. A – Avoid walking alone in dark or quiet areas. N – Never try to reason with aggressive or intoxicated people. S – Streetwise: Know your surroundings and mind your valuables”.
Additionally, the community offer said that people should charge phones before going out, use a secure cross-body bag, conceal their PIN when using an ATM or card machine, stick to populated, well-lit routes, avoid shortcuts through deserted areas, and, if travelling to a remote location, tell someone your plans.
“We also recommend keeping a record of your phone’s IMEI number, activating Find My Phone, and remembering that if you use your phone as a payment method, losing it may be like losing your wallet.”