Gardai roll out neighbourhood text alert scheme in Gowran

KILKENNY Garda Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Peter McConnon will address a special community meeting in Gowran tonight as part of the ongoing rollout of the hugely successful neighbourhood text alert scheme.

Sgt McConnon will be joined by Sgt Ted Hughes and Margaret Quinn of community development group Muintir na to explain how the text alert system works and to give tips on how to keep your home safe.

The meeting begins at 8pm and follows similar events in Callan and Bennetsbridge in recent weeks.

Gardai have urged all householders to protect their properties and their local community by signing up to the text alert scheme.

Burglaries across Kilkenny city and county have plummeted by almost two thirds since local gardai began rolling out the neighbourhood text alert scheme five years ago.

Sgt McConnon said the drop in burglaries and rural crime is directly a result of the partnership approach taken by community groups and their local gardai.

Sgt McConnon told KilkennyNow.ie: “The text alert scheme has been a great success. It doesn’t, of course, stop burglaries altogether, but greater awareness and alertness and working with local communities on the ground has made them much safer places.”