– Six retail units nationwide targeted by criminals in past two weeks alone
– ‘A clear trend of criminality has emerged which needs to be addressed by the gardai as a matter of urgency’
Thursday July 6 2023. Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the largest representative body for the retail industry in Ireland, has called for a major increase in Garda resources to address a nationwide retail crime spree.
Over the past two weeks, six retail units across the country have been targeted by criminals who typically break into the premises by ramming them with a car before escaping with stolen goods.
These retail units are:
• Vodafone in Newbridge, Co Kildare
• Eir in Naas, Co Kildare (targeted twice in two weeks)
• Vodafone in Trim, Co Meath
• Eir in Bray, Co Wicklow
• 3 Mobile in Henry St, Dublin city
• Select in Galway city
These incidents have come on the back of the high-profile ramming of the Boss store on Dublin’s Grafton Street earlier this year.
Speaking today, Keelan Bourke, Head of Commercial with REI, said: “It is highly concerning to see
this spate of robberies nationwide and unfortunately, retailers have not seen the requisite support
from the gardai to date. A clear trend of criminality has emerged which needs to be addressed as a
matter of urgency and we need to see additional Garda resources in the streets to help retailers in
need.”
He said that retailers could not afford to be targeted in this manner. “Retailers are only just emerging from the toughest three years they’ve ever experienced, and these kinds of attacks could
result in many retailers either going out of business or deciding to leave the Irish market. They also cause worry and anxiety for staff who may be concerned about being onsite either early or late in the day because of these incidents.”
Mr Bourke added that retailers in general had noted an increase in abuse against staff, and he urged the public to be kind and considerate to retail workers.
Retail Excellence Press Release - Retail Excellence Ireland calls for increased Garda presence to address retail crime spree