Is Mayo being hit by a crime wave?

Defiler Of The Coffin

Just from browsing through the Mayo News website this evening I read the following:

Tourists and a doorman beaten up in Westport.
Woman robbed in Achill
Farm machinery stolen in Hollymount
Catalytic converter stolen from a jeep in Castlebar
Houses robbed in Castlebar
Gardaí led on a high speed chase across the whole county
'Undesirables' assaulting and robbing people in Castlebar

This isn't just the usual drunken antics you see every week in the Connaught and the Western, it seems as if Mayo is being targeted by thugs who are driving down for the day and making a quick getaway onto the motorway when they have finished cleaning the place out. There also seems to have been an influx of 'anti-social' types into Castlebar in recent times.

With Garda resources and numbers cut is there anything that can be done or do we just accept that these are dangerous times to be living in a rural area?

yop

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Just from browsing through the Mayo News website this evening I read the following:

Tourists and a doorman beaten up in Westport.
Woman robbed in Achill
Farm machinery stolen in Hollymount
Catalytic converter stolen from a jeep in Castlebar
Houses robbed in Castlebar
Gardaí led on a high speed chase across the whole county
'Undesirables' assaulting and robbing people in Castlebar

This isn't just the usual drunken antics you see every week in the Connaught and the Western, it seems as if Mayo is being targeted by thugs who are driving down for the day and making a quick getaway onto the motorway when they have finished cleaning the place out. There also seems to have been an influx of 'anti-social' types into Castlebar in recent times.

With Garda resources and numbers cut is there anything that can be done or do we just accept that these are dangerous times to be living in a rural area?

i
To be honest its been going on for many years, the papers probably weren't highlighting it as much.

Defiler Of The Coffin

yop wrote: »

To be honest its been going on for many years, the papers probably weren't highlighting it as much.

It just seems to me that things have escalated recently. I don't remember things being this bad years ago or maybe I've just got the rose-tinted spectacles on. Perhaps this is one repercussion of the recession that's finally starting to kick in?

FaganJr

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Just from browsing through the Mayo News website this evening I read the following:

Tourists and a doorman beaten up in Westport.
Woman robbed in Achill
Farm machinery stolen in Hollymount
Catalytic converter stolen from a jeep in Castlebar
Houses robbed in Castlebar
Gardaí led on a high speed chase across the whole county
'Undesirables' assaulting and robbing people in Castlebar

This isn't just the usual drunken antics you see every week in the Connaught and the Western, it seems as if Mayo is being targeted by thugs who are driving down for the day and making a quick getaway onto the motorway when they have finished cleaning the place out. There also seems have been an influx of 'anti-social' types into Castlebar in recent times.

With Garda resources and numbers cut is there anything that can be done or do we just accept that these are dangerous times to be living in a rural area?

I wouldn't worry about Garda Resources!

I know 2 people who had their houses robbed recently, when the owner said to the Garda, "Dont worry I haven't touched anything if your taking finger prints" The Garda laughed and said,
"Shur theres no point, shur we wont catch them anyway!"

I was gobsmacked!

But when I heard the following I was enraged.

After the Garda said much the same as above, the Garda were leaving and the woman asked where are you going?
Garda Replied " Shur Job done"
She had to protest strongly for them to wait!

Why wait you might ask, well for one her front door was laying in the hall.
Two, she had 3 young children under the age of 6, three, her husband was out of country working, and four, it was after 8pm at night, and she had just been F***ing robbed!

Disgrace!

yop

From my own experience around Westport/Cbar there was always fights and scraps with plenty of muppets, usually the same people.
There were also breakins but now they are more amplified due to the recession and the media for ever bleating bad news.
I could be off the mark though

Coillte_Bhoy

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Just from browsing through the Mayo News website this evening I read the following:

Tourists and a doorman beaten up in Westport.
Woman robbed in Achill
Farm machinery stolen in Hollymount
Catalytic converter stolen from a jeep in Castlebar
Houses robbed in Castlebar
Gardaí led on a high speed chase across the whole county
'Undesirables' assaulting and robbing people in Castlebar

This isn't just the usual drunken antics you see every week in the Connaught and the Western, it seems as if Mayo is being targeted by thugs who are driving down for the day and making a quick getaway onto the motorway when they have finished cleaning the place out. There also seems to have been an influx of 'anti-social' types into Castlebar in recent times.

With Garda resources and numbers cut is there anything that can be done or do we just accept that these are dangerous times to be living in a rural area?

Which motorway would that be then?

Defiler Of The Coffin

The M6, it's not that far from Mayo

nuac

Yes - imho more breakins and more robberies these days

Coillte_Bhoy

nuac wrote: »

Yes - imho more breakins and more robberies these days

in your opinion, well thanks for posting. You going to back that up with any stats?

Coillte_Bhoy

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

The M6, it's not that far from Mayo

Actually it is you know if your driving away from a crime scene. Tell me what would your preferred route be from say Balla after committing a robbery??? but dont let that stop you from posting hysterical nonsense.

Defiler Of The Coffin

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Actually it is you know if your driving away from a crime scene. Tell me what would your preferred route be from say Balla after committing a robbery??? but dont let that stop you from posting hysterical nonsense.

Balla -> Claremorris -> Cloonfad -> Williamstown -> Ballymoe -> Roscommon -> Athlone -> Anywhere. Plenty of time to make a getaway considering any robbers could be safe home before a break-in is even detected. None of what I posted is hysterical nonsense, all the incidents mentioned in my OP actually happened. I get the feeling you are arguing with me just for the sake of it. There certainly is a feeling around the place that crime is on the up, whether it can be substantiated or not is why I started this thread. Note that the thread title contains a question, nothing hysterical about asking questions now is there?

Just Like Heaven

I'd say the amount of house break-ins is definitely up in the last 18 months from the amount I've heard about them.

Shelflife

The problem is that those that are caught are asked nicely not to do it again, the amount of reoffenders that are not put away is crazy.

why wouldnt you keep stealing when even if you are caught nothing happens to you. Shoplifting alone costs the local retailers a fortune and nothing is done about the same scum that steal and terrify the shop workers.

Aeternum

Living in Castlebar I have to say there has definitely been more crime circulating lately than usual. I work in a store in town and there are a certain group of people that are robbing us blind! I'm sure many people will know who I'm on about as they moved to the area in the last year and even the local schools have had major problems, although they don't attend any school in the area.

yop

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

in your opinion, well thanks for posting. You going to back that up with any stats?

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Actually it is you know if your driving away from a crime scene. Tell me what would your preferred route be from say Balla after committing a robbery??? but dont let that stop you from posting hysterical nonsense.

MOD NOTE: Your not adding to this thread, either post something relevant or not at all, your attacking posts, don't continue it.

nuac

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

in your opinion, well thanks for posting. You going to back that up with any stats?

No Stats, CB, but have been living in Mayo most of my 70+ years. spent many years working in courts here, and that is my perception

mikehammer67

certainly seems to be a an upsurge in robberies round here-hardly surprising when the gards are non-existent save for an occasional patrol car from the nearest station miles away

checkpoints seem to have ceased entirely-you could pretty much drive with no tax,nct etc unless you're on the major roads

Love2u

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Just from browsing through the Mayo News website this evening I read the following:

Tourists and a doorman beaten up in Westport.
Woman robbed in Achill
Farm machinery stolen in Hollymount
Catalytic converter stolen from a jeep in Castlebar
Houses robbed in Castlebar
Gardaí led on a high speed chase across the whole county
'Undesirables' assaulting and robbing people in Castlebar

This isn't just the usual drunken antics you see every week in the Connaught and the Western, it seems as if Mayo is being targeted by thugs who are driving down for the day and making a quick getaway onto the motorway when they have finished cleaning the place out. There also seems to have been an influx of 'anti-social' types into Castlebar in recent times.

With Garda resources and numbers cut is there anything that can be done or do we just accept that these are dangerous times to be living in a rural area?

Lots of things can be done!, I've been in many countries and from what I can see the police have "zero" tolerance for crime etc... You only need to look at the police and you get scarred. They are "fit", yes they can most definitely out run anyone who dares to escape them, and they have all the resources they need, batons, guns......
The problem here in Ireland, is that most cops need to enroll in boot camp and get some measure of fitness level going before considering leaving any police station and trying to catch criminals. These criminals are fitter than the Gardai. I do understand the gardai also need more resources so I can't go too hard on them. In relation to the thugs, it's the same thugs each time, and Judge Devins in Castlebar spends more time trying to be "Judge Judy" than serving proper sentence to thugs. I say get rid of Devins in Castlebar, give the police more resources, lock these thugs up and throw away the key. The thugs are well known in Castlebar and they get away with blue murder. Why are we housing these people, and why are they getting free handouts? Why are we paying high taxes for these people who won't behave like normal human beings. The system is wrong, and the laugh is on us. Would you or I get away with parking a few caravans on the side of the road!!!! And I better be careful, because next you'll know I'll be considered racist if I mention people in caravans. What a joke!! The Gardai need to up their game and stop hiding, they need to get out there and show these people who's boss, I'd also ask the Gardai to shout from the rooftops to get more resources and go to the top to get what is needed to help them with crime.
Thank you.

space_man

Love2u wrote: »

Lots of things can be done!, I've been in many countries and from what I can see the police have "zero" tolerance for crime etc... You only need to look at the police and you get scarred. They are "fit", yes they can most definitely out run anyone who dares to escape them, and they have all the resources they need, batons, guns......
The problem here in Ireland, is that most cops need to enroll in boot camp and get some measure of fitness level going before considering leaving any police station and trying to catch criminals. These criminals are fitter than the Gardai. I do understand the gardai also need more resources so I can't go too hard on them. In relation to the thugs, it's the same thugs each time, and Judge Devins in Castlebar spends more time trying to be "Judge Judy" than serving proper sentence to thugs. I say get rid of Devins in Castlebar, give the police more resources, lock these thugs up and throw away the key. The thugs are well known in Castlebar and they get away with blue murder. Why are we housing these people, and why are they getting free handouts? Why are we paying high taxes for these people who won't behave like normal human beings. The system is wrong, and the laugh is on us. Would you or I get away with parking a few caravans on the side of the road!!!! And I better be careful, because next you'll know I'll be considered racist if I mention people in caravans. What a joke!! The Gardai need to up their game and stop hiding, they need to get out there and show these people who's boss, I'd also ask the Gardai to shout from the rooftops to get more resources and go to the top to get what is needed to help them with crime.
Thank you.

as someone who visits the West on a regular basis, i see no more or less crime than before. there's a lot of exaggeration and hypebole about the whole issue, much of it for party political reasons. also the Gardaí and the media are scaremongering for their own selfish reasons.
people need to get a grip, calm down and of course take all sensible security precautions.
Ireland and particularly the West is largely crime-free. in fact the worst crime i ever witnessed in all my time in Mayo was an itinerant "lady" being assaulted by one of her kindred spirits after a local publican foolishly allowed them a session in one of the local pubs.

mikom

space_man wrote: »

as someone who visits the West on a regular basis, i see no more or less crime than before. there's a lot of exaggeration and hypebole about the whole issue, much of it for party political reasons. also the Gardaí and the media are scaremongering for their own selfish reasons.
people need to get a grip, calm down and of course take all sensible security precautions.
Ireland and particularly the West is largely crime-free. in fact the worst crime i ever witnessed in all my time in Mayo was an itinerant "lady" being assaulted by one of her kindred spirits after a local publican foolishly allowed them a session in one of the local pubs.

Try living there, then get back to me.

space_man

mikom wrote: »

Try living there, then get back to me.

my relatives live there, and like me they agree with my view on these matters.
unfortunately many people down the west are prone to lose the run of themselves, and this is just another example of that.
do yourself a faour and don't swallow all the fear mongering nonsense you see in the tabloid media.

Kristopherus

Your folks must be living in a cave:rolleyes:

space_man

Kristopherus wrote: »

Your folks must be living in a cave:rolleyes:

i know Mayo is a bit of a damp bog hole, but i wouldn't refer to it as a cave.:D

Kristopherus

space_man wrote: »

i know Mayo is a bit of a damp bog hole, but i wouldn't refer to it as a cave.:D

Well you have very little crime in a damp bog hole:D. Those scumbags mentioned in Love2u's post will only steal from a dry bog:D

eire-kp

OP I agree with you completely. It's the same where I come from in Sligo. I can think off at least 15 robberies locally most where the houses were broken into while people were at mass etc.
Three years ago I couldn't think of one robbery locally.

I think it's going to get worse and eventually someone will end up shooting some of the culprits.

mikom

space_man wrote: »

my relatives live there, and like me they agree with my view on these matters.
unfortunately many people down the west are prone to lose the run of themselves, and this is just another example of that.
do yourself a faour and don't swallow all the fear mongering nonsense you see in the tabloid media.

Yeah.......... I just imagined a nearby publican and shopkeeper having his shotgun taken from him by the Gardai after he fired a shot at raiders one night last week........... the same raiders who then tried to enter another business in Portumna shortly after that same night, then were chased by the Gardai to Tipp, where they then lost their chasers.........

http://www.galwaynews.ie/30214-attempted-burglaries-abbeyknockmoy-and-portumna

Kristopherus

space_man wrote: »

exactly my point.
the whole thing is being exaggerated by sectional interests for their own selfish reasons.
don't believe everything you read, or everything you hear down the pub!

Well my point is that if they can easily steal from the bog, it only serves as a training ground for them to rob & damage property in the urban areas, which in turn leads them to follow the mobile route looking for possible rural soft spots. There is no doubt but that crime has increased in multiples over the last 10yrs or so.

space_man

Kristopherus wrote: »

Well my point is that if they can easily steal from the bog, it only serves as a training ground for them to rob & damage property in the urban areas, which in turn leads them to follow the mobile route looking for possible rural soft spots. There is no doubt but that crime has increased in multiples over the last 10yrs or so.

no it hasn't.
where's your evidence for that?

Shelflife

space_man wrote: »

again you are exaggerating the "facts". they got away with a few fags.
Wow! call in Robo Cop.
Ger a grip will ya!

So spaceman are you suggesting that its acceptable to steal a few fags, break into someones business,damage doors windows and mess up the place?

The report says a quantity of cigs, as they are €10 a pack even talking a carrier bag full could easily be a few grands worth of product. That could easily be the final nail in the coffin of many a business.

As someone who is in business and has been robbed on numerous occassions and who has a constant battle with repeat offenders who shoplift for someone to come on and scoff at the fact that they got away with a few fags I find very ignorant.

every time the alarm goes off in our shop, my heart rate increases as I drive to the shop, not knowing what you will meet when you go in the door. will it be a false alarm or will there be armed intruders waiting for you with the keys. Your family wait at home for you wondering will you return soon or will you get the crap beaten out of you when you check on your property.

exagerrating the facts?

I think not. I Have been robbed 6 times, attempted robberies 4 times and an armed attack/robbery attempt on one of my staff as well as numerous con attempts and countless shoplifting.

all these resulted in one court case and no convictions.

as someone who has first hand experience in these matters please dont belittle the hassle and hardship that we face on a weekly basis.

space_man

Shelflife wrote: »

So spaceman are you suggesting that its acceptable to steal a few fags, break into someones business,damage doors windows and mess up the place?

The report says a quantity of cigs, as they are €10 a pack even talking a carrier bag full could easily be a few grands worth of product. That could easily be the final nail in the coffin of many a business.

As someone who is in business and has been robbed on numerous occassions and who has a constant battle with repeat offenders who shoplift for someone to come on and scoff at the fact that they got away with a few fags I find very ignorant.

every time the alarm goes off in our shop, my heart rate increases as I drive to the shop, not knowing what you will meet when you go in the door. will it be a false alarm or will there be armed intruders waiting for you with the keys. Your family wait at home for you wondering will you return soon or will you get the crap beaten out of you when you check on your property.

exagerrating the facts?

I think not. I Have been robbed 6 times, attempted robberies 4 times and an armed attack/robbery attempt on one of my staff as well as numerous con attempts and countless shoplifting.

all these resulted in one court case and no convictions.

as someone who has first hand experience in these matters please dont belittle the hassle and hardship that we face on a weekly basis.

as much as i sympathize with your travails, i still have seen no statistical evidence to back up the thread claim, that Mayo is being hit by a crime wave.
all i am getting from this thread are anecdotes, exaggeration, hyperbole and silly stories about me granny's turf being stolen.
Hardly the crime wave some folk claim.

Defiler Of The Coffin

space_man wrote: »

as much as i sympathize with your travails, i still have seen no statistical evidence to back up the thread claim, that Mayo is being hit by a crime wave.
all i am getting from this thread are anecdotes, exaggeration, hyperbole and silly stories about me granny's turf being stolen.
Hardly the crime wave some folk claim.

Heaven forbid that people would actually discuss things on a forum. Crime is a topical issue at the moment, I don't see the harm in discussing it. If you read the local papers in Mayo you will see what's going on yourself.

space_man

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Heaven forbid that people would actually discuss things on a forum. Crime is a topical issue at the moment, I don't see the harm in discussing it. If you read the local papers in Mayo you will see what's going on yourself.

papers report what they want to report, and that usually follows some agenda or other. ie crime frightens the bejasus out of folk and that sell papers.

if they reported on what is ACTUALLY happening down the country (very little btw) very few papers would be sold. now that would never do would it?

Defiler Of The Coffin

space_man wrote: »

papers report what they want to report, and that usually follows some agenda or other. ie crime frightens the bejasus out of folk and that sell papers.

if they reported on what is ACTUALLY happening down the country (very little btw) very few papers would be sold. now that would never do would it?

So you're saying the papers are making it all up?

space_man

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

So you're saying the papers are making it all up?

not exactly, but they are gilding the lily.
for instance if you were to read some of the rags, you would not ever leave your house (except to buy it on sunday i suppose), and some journalists have made careers out of it. they need the scumbags more than the scumbags need them. sometimes it's hard to distinguish between them.

Defiler Of The Coffin

space_man wrote: »

not exactly, but they are gilding the lily.
for instance if you were to read some of the rags, you would not ever leave your house (except to buy it on sunday i suppose), and some journalists have made careers out of it. they need the scumbags more than the scumbags need them. sometimes it's hard to distinguish between them.

Maybe so, but there is a difference between the scaremongering perpetrated by the Sunday tabloids and the local court reports in the local papers. I agree that the tabloids make their money by glamorising crime but from reading about the cases that are coming up in the courts and the reports on crime I get the impression that crime is on the increase. I don't have the stats to hand so I can't substantiate that any more but rightly or wrongly it is a concern for people.

space_man

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Maybe so, but there is a difference between the scaremongering perpetrated by the Sunday tabloids and the local court reports in the local papers. I agree that the tabloids make their money by glamorising crime but from reading about the cases that are coming up in the courts and the reports on crime I get the impression that crime is on the increase. I don't have the stats to hand so I can't substantiate that any more but rightly or wrongly it is a concern for people.

you said it better than i ever could.

yosemite_sam

People are skint, crime rises. We were burgled the boys in blue came and no one was ever caught, a lot too be said for a DNA data base.

Defiler Of The Coffin

space_man wrote: »

you said it better than i ever could.

Perhaps the mathematics forum would be a better place for you, they are freakish about stats and proofs there also.

space_man

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Perhaps the mathematics forum would be a better place for you, they are freakish about stats and proofs there also.

well if you or somebody else can come up with proof of this crime wave, i'll accept that. but as yet i have not seen it.
all i see/hear/read are tales about granny's turf being stolen and the likes.

btw i'm NOT saying there is no crime, just not the crime epidemic some are touting.

Shelflife

space_man wrote: »

well if you or somebody else can come up with proof of this crime wave, i'll accept that. but as yet i have not seen it.
all i see/hear/read are tales about granny's turf being stolen and the likes.

btw i'm NOT saying there is no crime, just not the crime epidemic some are touting.

Taking burgleries

Qtr 3 2010 781 reported incidents

Qtr 3 2012 881 reported incidents

thats 100 extra in a qtr or a 12%

From the cso website.

That good enough for you?

space_man

Shelflife wrote: »

Taking burgleries

Qtr 3 2010 781 reported incidents

Qtr 3 2012 881 reported incidents

thats 100 extra in a qtr or a 12%

From the cso website.

That good enough for you?

12% from an extremely low base hardly constitutes a crime wave. maybe people are reporting more of these incidents now? insurance claims etc. ???

yop

Folks, one warning handed out and 2 more VERY close to getting same. Attacking posters and posting which are totally irrelevant to the thread are out of order.
No more warnings, continue and you will be banned.

space_man

Shelflife wrote: »

Taking burgleries

Qtr 3 2010 781 reported incidents

Qtr 3 2012 881 reported incidents

thats 100 extra in a qtr or a 12%

From the cso website.

That good enough for you?

could you give us a link to those CSO crime figs please?

Shelflife

space_man wrote: »

could you give us a link to those CSO crime figs please?

Seriously? google cso crime statistics

space_man

Shelflife wrote: »

Seriously? google cso crime statistics

so you do not have a link then?

your answer to referencing is go find it yourself.;)

yop

Shelflife wrote: »

Seriously? google cso crime statistics

If you start providing stats and are asked for them, its only manners to attach a link. Phantom stats without a link.

Shelflife

space_man wrote: »

so you do not have a link then?

your answer to referencing is go find it yourself.;)

Pretty much, you come on here spouting that there is no crime wave and belittleling crimes against businesses as been something of nothing.

You then scoff at actual (not anecdotal) evidence and look for statistical evidence when a quick google would get you all the stats you need.

All you do is deny the claims that are made by posters and provide no evidence yourself for your claims.:mad:

space_man

Shelflife wrote: »

Pretty much, you come on here spouting that there is no crime wave and belittleling crimes against businesses as been something of nothing.

You then scoff at actual (not anecdotal) evidence and look for statistical evidence when a quick google would get you all the stats you need.

All you do is deny the claims that are made by posters and provide no evidence yourself for your claims.:mad:

all i'm looking for is a link to your stats. it's probably on your history. i'm not saying you are making them up, but without hard evidence some folk might reach that conclusion.

Shelflife

yop wrote: »

If you start providing stats and are asked for them, its only manners to attach a link. Phantom stats without a link.

space_man wrote: »

all i'm looking for is a link to your stats. it's probably on your history. i'm not saying you are making them up, but without hard evidence some folk might reach that conclusion.

http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=cjq03

You can crunch the figures from this page. I took all theft/robbery/fraud figures for both quarters.

Yop with all due respect is also manners not to belittle a a robbery where a premises has been broken into and property stolen as nicking a few packs of fags.
Spaceman clearly has no idea what its like to be robbed or threatened on numerous occasions and his tone leaves alot to be desired.

Spaceman the only person on this thread who needs convincing is yourself.

PogMoThoin

It's the Sky News/Tabloid generation of media, they sensationalise every tiny little story. We've gone from Gay Byrne topical radio shows to the Joe Duffy whinge-fest of bad things. A knock on effect is that local media has now become tabloid with their approach to the news. People buy into it (esp women IMO). I hear my own wife state it's not safe to let children out on their own, they can't walk to/from school, it's too dangerous. Truth is, there is no increase in child abductions, no predators, just lots of over-hyping and scare-mongering by the media. The place is no more dangerous now than it was 20-30 years ago.

space_man

PogMoThoin wrote: »

It's the Sky News/Tabloid generation of media, they sensationalise every tiny little story. We've gone from Gay Byrne topical radio shows to the Joe Duffy whinge-fest of bad things. A knock on effect is that local media has now become tabloid with their approach to the news. People buy into it (esp women IMO). I hear my own wife state it's not safe to let children out on their own, they can't walk to/from school, it's too dangerous. Truth is, there is no increase in child abductions, no predators, just lots of over-hyping and scare-mongering by the media. The place is no more dangerous now than it was 20-30 years ago.

thank you Póg!
I too agree we have become too coseted, and every little crime is Miami Vice, or should that be Mulranny Vice?:D