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Crime prevention

Click here for COVID-19 information, including our leaflet with crime prevention advice on securing vacant building sites.

Covid-19 Securing Building Sites

Crime Prevention Officers

All members of An Garda Síochána promote crime prevention and reduction. However there are also dedicated Crime Prevention Officers (CPOs) within each Garda Division. These CPOs are trained to encourage, promote and advise on crime prevention to both the private and business community.

To contact your local Crime Prevention Officer, please go to the List of Crime Prevention Officers 

The National Crime Prevention Unit 

In addition to Divisional CPOs, there are also CPOs based at the National Crime Prevention Unit (NCPU) in Garda Headquarters, Harcourt Square, Dublin 2.   

The NCPU’s responsibilities include:-

  • The promotion of crime prevention and reduction
  • Research into best practice
  • The development of policies and strategies
  • Training for CPOs

The Garda National Crime Prevention Unit can be contacted at:- 

Garda National Crime Prevention Unit

Garda National Community Engagement Bureau

Garda Headquarters

J Block

Phoenix Park

Dublin 8

D08 HN3X

Ireland

Tel: +353 1 666 3669

Mobile Phone Safety

The following practical measures can help in preventing and reducing mobile phone theft:

  • Register your mobile phone with your service provider.
  • Take careful note of your unique 15 digit mobile phone International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. By pressing *#06# on your phone keypad the IMEI will appear on the screen.
  • Enable the PIN Security feature and keep your phone locked at all times.
  • When out and about, keep your mobile phone out of public view, be streetwise and always be aware of your surroundings.
  • Never leave your mobile phone behind in an unattended vehicle.
  • If your mobile phone is lost or stolen, contact your mobile phone service provider immediately to suspend your service and prevent unauthorised calls being made and billed to you. Your provider will block your SIM card and IMEI number to prevent your phone from being used on the mobile network.
  • Report the loss or theft to An Garda Síochána, providing identification numbers for your SIM card and IMEI number. This information may assist in the recovery of your mobile phone. 

Campus Watch

Campus Watch is similar to a residential Neighbourhood Watch scheme in that it is a crime prevention and community safety programme. It operates as a partnership between An Garda Síochána and the Campus occupants. It works on the basis that every member of Campus can help to improve the quality of life on site by keeping a look out for students, staff and visitors, and reporting suspicious activities to the Gardaí.

Advice on bike theft

An Garda Síochána is appealing to cyclists to take extra precautions in keeping their bicycles safe by locking them in the most secure way possible.

Crime Prevention Advice:

  • Spend 10% to 20% of the value of your bike on two locks.
  • Lock your bike tightly to an immovable object.
  • Keep the lock off the ground.
  • Take a photo of your bike, note the serial number and email it to yourself so that you have a record of it.
  • Lock your bike indoors or in well-lit areas if possible.

Crime prevention bike theft video with Sergeant Kelvin Courtney and Sergeant Shane Henry giving useful advice on protecting your bicycle (pre COVID 19 restrictions)

Property Marking

Property marking is a process where a physical mark is etched onto a piece of property such as a bike, laptop or tools.

The mark is made by a specially-designed machine which embosses the property item with small dots in the pattern of the owner’s Eircode – to make it harder for criminals to sell on stolen property.

Property marking engagement days are held by local community policing units and regularly highlighted on An Garda Síochána social media sites.  Contact your local Garda station for more details.

For more information on property marking click here.