Metal thieves target unfinished houses

By TOM GILMORE UNFINISHED houses in a number of areas of North Galway are being targeted by thieves stealing copper pipes, copper water cylinders, radiators and metal water tanks.[private] While some of the metal objects may be stolen for melting down as scrap metal it is suspected that other items, such as radiators, are being sold at knock down prices for use by other householders. Unoccupied houses, some in unfinished or partially finished estates in Dunmore, Corofin, Caherlistrane and Headford have been hit by the thieves. They have also targeted an older house, which is unoccupied in Tuam. But while the thieves may be selling some of the metal objects for melting down, it is suspected that they may be doing business with dealers outside the West of Ireland in order to avoid detection. 'We have a close relationship with the Gardai and we are very vigilant if any metal items are offered to us from dubious sources,' said a spokesperson for Galway Metal Company in Oranmore. But some Garda sources feel that those stealing the metal are moving outside of the West of Ireland, possibly to the North in search of markets. The thieves appear to be competent in the disconnecting of metal pipes, radiators and water tanks and in some houses the items have been removed from their moorings with 'clinical perfection' according to one Garda. The thefts come at a time when the stealing of a 12-foot high bronze statue from its location outside Monaster­evin made national headlines. While many people feel that this was not stolen for scrap there is another school of thought too which feels that this could be melted down to produce two tonnes of bronze, which would be very valuable. Detective Sergeant Mick O'Driscoll of Tuam Gardai says that people need to be on the look out for thieves targeting unoccupied and unfinished houses. 'If anyone sees anything suspicious in unfinished estates at night time, especially if there are vehicles making trips to houses which are unoccupied then they should report such incidents to their local Gardai,' says Det Sergt O'Driscoll. 'Apart from the incidents that have been reported to us in the Tuam Garda District we suspect that this is happening in other areas of the county and around the country as well,' he added. In a separate incident Gardai in Headford and Tuam are warning farmers and agricultural contractors to report to them any incidents where fencing wire is offered to them at knockdown prices from any dubious sources. The warning comes following the theft of thousands of euro worth of fencing wire from the yard of Joyce's Hardware Store in Headford. The thieves entered Joyce's yard sometime between March 11 and 14 and made off with a large quantity of Rylock green fencing wire. They also stole quantities of barbed fencing wire and sheep net fencing wire in the raid. Anyone who has any information, or who may be offered fencing wire at unusually low prices should contact Tuam Gardai or 093-70840 at Headford Gardai at 093-35412. [/private]