By Noel O’Driscoll
GARDAÍ in Athy are seeking to put the clamps on a brazen bunch of meter-beaters who relieved three parking meters in the town of a total of €1,300 in the past week.
While the rest of us moan about having to put money in these machines, the culprits in this case were apparently well equipped to get it out, using a drill to turn the meters into handy cash dispensers.
The thefts occurred overnight on Wednesday night/Thursday morning of last week, with €400, €600 and €300 taken from the three meters, two of which were located at Emily Square and the third at Meeting Lane.
While the total sum involved is substantial, the money would presumably all have been in coins, leaving the culprits literally weighed down by cash.
So it’s to be assumed that those involved must have had a getaway car in the area. Needless to say, they didn’t pay for the parking.
According to Sgt Jim Bergin at Athy Station, the gardaí are looking to speak with anyone who was in the area overnight on Wednesday/ Thursday last and who may have seen anything unusual occurring.
This is the first time a crime of this nature has been committed locally and, in the bid to ensure that it will not be repeated, the gardaí will be continuing their investigastions and won’t be parking the case any time soon.
And as for what the local traffic wardens can expect when the time comes to officially empty the meters? No change.