Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) has called for a major increase in Garda resources to address a nationwide retail crime spree.
REI highlighted that 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
'Addressed As A Matter Of Urgency'
The representative body for the retail industry in Ireland, noted that these incidents have come on the back of the high-profile ramming of the Boss store on Dublin’s Grafton Street earlier this year.
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 Gardaí 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.”
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.
Read More: Retail Excellence Announces Partnership Extension With AIB Merchant Services
© 2023 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more retail news, click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
