Vol. 248 No. 14
asked the Minister for Justice if he can give a breakdown of the types of cars stolen in the last three years distinguishing between those with anti-theft devices and those without anti-theft devices; and whether he can give any indication as to the effectiveness of anti-theft devices in preventing cars from being stolen.
70.
asked the Minister for Justice how many cars have been reported stolen in each of the last three years; how many were recovered in each year; and if he will give separate figures for Dublin city and county.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 70 together.
The available statistics relevant to the questions are in the form of a table which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report.
No figures are available distinguishing the number of vehicles taken that have anti-theft devices fitted but the Garda authorities say that few vehicles with such devices are taken and they, of course, recommend that these devices be fitted in all cases.
Following is the statement:
Dublin Metropolitan Area
|
Cars |
Motor Cycles |
|||
|
Year |
Taken |
Recovered |
Taken |
Recovered |
|
1967 |
1,802 |
1,781 |
1,484 |
1,377 |
|
1968 |
2,820 |
2,788 |
1,965 |
1,742 |
|
1969 |
4,944 |
4,884 |
2,716 |
2,337 |
Rest of Country
Mechanically Propelled Vehicles
|
Year |
Taken |
Recovered |
|
1967 |
805 |
785 |
|
1968 |
1,134 |
1,109 |
|
1969 |
1,340 |
1,274 |
Note: (1) Separate figures for Dublin city and county are not available.
(2) A breakdown as between cars and other mechanically propelled vehicles is not available for the country outside the DMA.
(3) Figures for mechanically propelled vehicles other than cars and motor cycles are not available for the DMA, but the number of such vehicles taken is negligible.
(4) In the case of the DMA figures the vehicles shown as having been recovered were all taken in the year to which they are shown as relating; in the figures for the rest of the country the vehicles shown as having been recovered are those recovered in the particular year irrespective of when they were taken.
Could the Minister say if any special arrangements are made in regard to cars which are stolen and abandoned? I am sure he is aware of many cases where cars are left on the side of the road until they are stripped down to the bare essentials, even though the Garda patrol passes by. Can he do anything about having them taken into safe custody until such time as the owner turns up?
Most of the cars to which the Deputy refers are probably not stolen but are abandoned by the owners, because immediately a car has been located the gardaí would contact the owner who presumably would take it away.
Cars are not abandoned with number plates on them. The cars I am talking about are ones with number plates. When they have no further use for them they are left on the side of the road by people who steal them.
People take the number plates off before they abandon them.
Of course, so that they will not be caught.
They can be caught. There is a chassis number and an engine number and there are many other ways of identifying cars.
