Crime prevention and community support initiative launched in Offaly

OFFALY Public Participation Network (PPN) has launched the Property Marking Machine in conjunction with the Gardai and Offaly County Council.

Offaly PPN Secretariat sourced funding for the machine via the Community Activities Fund administered by Offaly Co. Co.
Offaly Co. Co. provided funds to cover the training element. Sergeant Graham Kavanagh, Crime Prevention Officer Laois Offaly provided direction and support to assist in the roll out of the training.  Thanks to James O ‘ Neill, Emma Thompson and Josephine Loughlin Property Marking Ireland for their assistance on the purchasing and roll out of training. Training took place in Mucklagh Community Centre on April 22nd . Community Watch members and Men’s Shed participants undertook the training. Further opportunities to engage in training will take place later this year. 

Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Offaly Joint Policing Committee welcomed the initiative and reflected on its value in the wider community.

The Property Marking machine offers farmers an opportunity to put a distinctive mark on their Machinery and for households to mark Quads, Bicycles, Lawnmowers etc.

Cllr Fitzpatrick also thanked Bridie Costello Hynes the PPN Coordinator for her work on this project and hopefully it will provide a safety barrier to all sectors.  

Superintendent John Lawless stated: “An Garda Síochána supports property marking as a very valuable crime prevention initiative.

“Every day we recover property and make every effort to find their rightful owner. Property marking acts as a deterrent to the criminal to steal the item in the first place. If property is stolen, Property Marking  increases the chances of the items being recovered, returned to its owner and speeds up the process of prosecuting those involved.

“We would encourage the use of the Garda Property app, which is available to download on the Apple and Google Play Stores. The App allows you to make a digital inventory of valuable property around the home or business.”

The Crime Prevention Officer Laois Offaly Sergeant Graham Kavanagh stated that property marking is now available in nearly every county in Ireland and since its commencement a number of years ago it has proven itself as an effective crime prevention initiative.

It works with Communities, local authorities and Gardaí working together as we have done here in Offaly and are working on in Laois. Thank you to Offaly PPN and Mr James O’Neill Property Marking Ireland for their help.

The Machine is now available to Communities. The Machine can be booked via Offaly PPN

Contact Offaly PPN at ppn@offalycoco.ie

Property marking will take place in conjunction with the Community Garda unit