Kilkenny gardaí hunt for jewel thief

Gardaí in Kilkenny are investigating the theft of €10,000 worth of jewellery from a house on the outskirts of the city over the weekend.
Five premises have been hit in recent days by opportunist criminals and gardaí are urging the people to be more savvy with their home security.
“People need to document and photograph all their valuables and to keep them in a safe and secure place.
“The best measure you can take to stop criminals from finding any valuables in your home is to stop them from having the time to take them by investing in and using an alarm and by extending alarms to garages and sheds
“Photocell lighting is also a very effective and inexpensive measure that deters criminals,” said Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Peter McConnon who also confirmed that there has been a spike in the number of burglaries around Kilkenny city and county in recent weeks .
A number of residential properties and businesses were targeted since last Thursday. On August 2, between 9.30am and 1.30pm a Husqvarna ride-on lawn mover and a Honda lawnmower were stolen from a shed. The following day in Annamult in Bennettsbridge a homeowner returned at 6.45pm to find the property ransacked. The property had been unoccupied since 1.20pm.
Meanwhile Callan Veterinary Clinic was also burgled over the weekend. Gardaí were alerted by an alarm activation at 4.50am on Sunday morning and discovered that a window had been forced open and a small quantity of cash taken.
Anyone with information should contact Kilkenny Gardai in confidence on 056-7775000.