Car thefts rise in the run-up to Christmas

Gardaí in north Tipperary have issued an appeal to car owners not to leave any valuables or goods in their cars in the run-up to Christmas following a number of thefts in both Nenagh and Roscrea.

Items were taken following a break-in to a vehicle parked in O' Rahilly Street, Nenagh, sometime betweenTuesday night or Wednesday morning of last week. On Saturday a similar incident occurred when property was taken from a vehicle in John's Lane in the town some time between 11am and 3pm.

Car thieves are also active in Roscrea in the run-up to the festive season. Items were taken following a break-in to a car at Ashbury on Monday of this week. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning. One same day items were taken from a vehicle parked at the Ros Na Cronan estate, again in the early hours.

"These type of crimes a very common at this time of the year, so we are appealing to car owners not to leave valuables in their vehicle," said a spokesman at Nenagh Garda Station.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday of last week a motorist was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after being spotted driving erratically at Templemore Road, Roscrea. On the same day a quantity of drugs were seized at Monanore, Toomevara, after gardaí were tipped off about a motorist who sparked suspicion in the area. The vehicle was sussequently seized and the suspect charged with having no tax or insurance cover.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to an aggravated burglary of a property in Ballybrit, Roscrea, after two individuals entered the house and stole items sometime between 7.30pm and 8,30pm on Thursday last.

On Friday last members of the Divisional Drugs Unit seized a quantity of cannabis herb after they stopped a suspect in Friar Street, Nenagh. On the same date a male was arrested at approximately 5.30pm in Main Street, Roscrea, on suspicion of being intoxicated and aggressive in a public place.