Council approve property marker to assist Mayo crime prevention
Mayo County Council has approved a property marking machine to address the theft of equipment and machinery in the county, a common issue reported to the gardai.
This decision comes in response to the common issue of theft reported to the gardai, where even recovered stolen property often cannot be returned to its rightful owner due to identification challenges.
In March of this year, Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon campaigned for the introduction of property marking machines to enhance crime prevention efforts in Mayo.
This specialised machine marks property items in the pattern of the owner's unique identifier, such as their Eircode.
This marking process makes it more difficult for criminals to sell stolen property.
The move aims to combat the increasing problem of theft and offer support to community and voluntary groups throughout the county.
Deputy Dillon's efforts led to the inclusion of this initiative on the agenda of the Mayo Joint Policing Committee.
The Mayo TD advocated for access to these unique machines on behalf of community members and voluntary groups across the county to further strengthen our community's resilience against theft.
The chairperson of the Fine Gael parliamentary party expressed his thanks to Mayo County Council for supporting this positive initiative.
He stated: "I welcome Mayo County Council's decision to invest in this property marking machine.
"It is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to protect our community from theft.
"I am pleased to see that my campaign in has resulted in reaching this milestone and I look forward to witnessing various community groups, including men's and women’s sheds, farmer organisations, sporting clubs, and many neighbourhood watch groupings, utilising this equipment to safeguard their belongings.
“Property Marking Ireland has been established to implement a comprehensive crime prevention program centred around property marking and training will be rolled out in 2024 across Mayo in the use of the property marking system,” added Deputy Dillon.