Burglaries on the decrease as text alert proves its worth

A significant decrease in burglaries throughout the county is becoming evident throughout County Meath, according to the Meath crime prevention officer.
Sgt Dean Kerins said every year huge efforts are made by An Garda Síochána and local communities to stem the growth of crime in the region, and such efforts appear to be paying dividends.
Sgt Kerins’ statistics show that there have been 90 burglaries in the year to date - down from 155 for the same period last year. This represents a reduction in criminal activity of almost 42 per cent, which he believes is attributable in part to the huge strides being made in community-based policing initiatives.
“With the increase in the number of Text Alert systems in operation over the past year, I think we are beginning to see the benefits of the system,” said Sgt Kerins.
Thanks to the engagement of local communities throughout the county, roughly 75 per cent of Meath’s geographical area is now covered by the Text Alert scheme, which facilitates immediate communication between the public and gardai.
Through the initiative, appointed members of the gardaí provide relevant information about possible suspicious activity by text or email to registered community contacts who, in turn, forward the information by text or email to all members of their community group.
According to Sgt Kerins, the focus will now turn to increasing the presence of the Text Alert initiative in urban areas.
Anyone interested in establishing a Text Alert group, or who would like more information about the initiative, can contact Sgt Kerins via the Meath Crime Prevention Facebook page.