Car ‘stolen and then crashed’ amidst spate of Letterkenny thefts

A vehicle was “stolen and then crashed” amidst a recent spate of car thefts in Letterkenny.

The incident occurred on Friday, August 7, in Letterkenny. The owner had left the keys in the car and it was briefly unattended. In this time, the car was stolen and then crashed.

On the same day, also in Letterkenny, a car was stolen and then located a short distance away. Damage had been caused to the driver’s door and the ignition barrel was missing. These matters are currently under investigation.

“In light of the number of car theft-related incidents mentioned, we wish to issue some crime prevention advice for car owners,” a Garda spokesperson said.

The general vehicle security advice is to never leave your car with a key in the ignition, lock doors and windows, fit an alarm, install a tracker, and park in well-lit areas with CCTV.

“Many second-hand car imports do not have a fully fitted car alarm system or are without a fitted immobiliser. This makes them extra vulnerable to hot-wiring.

“Car buyers and owners can take actions to decrease the risk of the theft of their vehicle. Cars imported from international markets are not automatically manufactured with the same security features as cars manufactured for the European market.

“We urge buyers and owners of vehicles to confirm the security features of import vehicles, especially to check if there is an in-built immobiliser and to consider additional security options.

“Buyers should check the security features of their vehicles and make decisions relating to augmenting security. For cars without an immobiliser, an additional steering wheel lock or chain should be considered. Always report any suspicious activity you observe around parked cars to Gardaí immediately.”