Lucky Dip gang ‘are stealing cars from outside homes in Kildare’
Demand for garda station to be opened in Kildare village
The so-called “Lucky Dip” gang, which is suspected of robbing dozens of vehicles, is being blamed for stealing cars in Kill.
Naas mayor Bill Clear pointed to “the continued growth of Kill and the surrounding area” and said 4,000 people live in Kill.
Cllr Clear also said that people living in the area have reported increases in and anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Clear said there should be an assessment of current garda resources, response times and crime levels “with a view to providing a permanent garda presence in the village (and) people are being left helpless.”
The station in Kill was shut down in January 2013 - a move that was criticised by residents as well as Fianna Fáil TD James Lawless , who helped launch a text alert system for the area and said the people served by the closed garda stations were now left exposed.
At a Naas Municipal District committee meeting, Cllr Clear said there was “chaos” at Halloween, cars are being stolen and it is not feasible for residents to await the arrival of a garda car from Naas station.
He said Kill was a smaller place when the station closed and Cllr Fintan Brett said the closure of stations like Kill was one of the "greatest disasters in this country” and he said many problems would not exist if there were gardaí on the street.
Cllr Brett added: “When people know there is a local garda they will confide in them and tell them what’s happening.”
Clr Seamie Moore said the need for Naas-based gardaí to go to Kill meant that resources in Naas were stretched and “this will dilute the efficiency of the gardaí.”