This is a subscriber-only article
Farmer Joseph Barrow from Mallow, Co Cork, had over 200 litres of diesel stolen from his tank on Wednesday.
The robbery took place between the hours of 10.30pm and 8am. Having noticed suspicious activity over the previous number of days, Joseph went to the yard on Wednesday morning. He immediately noticed the diesel tank close to the milking parlour had been tampered with. The door guarding the tank had had its lock cut by bolt cutters. The gardaí have been informed of the incident.
It’s not good enough that the recommended security is to buy a lock that would only keep out an honest person
Joseph described the incident as a cause for concern: “We wonder what might have happened if it was during calving season and I met them at 3am in the yard?”
A neighbour was also targeted on the same night.
Joseph said more needs to be done to protect people in rural Ireland and the elderly in particular are vulnerable. He said people should feel safe and not be intimidated into leaving their homes and farms. “It’s not good enough that the recommended security is to buy a lock that would only keep out an honest person," according to Joseph. “Being told to up security falls well short of what is required.”
Earlier this month, CSO figures showed an 8% increase in rural crime for 2017.
SHARING OPTIONS: