Cars parked at coastal and other outdoor locations are at most risk of being broken into on weekend afternoons during summer months, the Garda Siochána says.

Catalytic converters, cash, electronics, jewellery and tools were the items most targeted, and the average value of property stolen per incident was €660.

An average of €330 of cash was taken per incident, the Garda Press Office has said.

Just over €36 million in value was stolen from vehicles between 2016 and 2020.

Although theft from cars fell by 20 per cent last year, some 60 per cent of all thefts were from locations associated with outdoor activities during the summer.

The force has said that weekends between 2 pm and 7 pm appear to be the most likely time for thefts to occur.

Garda crime prevention officer Sgt Ber Leetch said that while overall theft from car incidents has reduced in the last 12 months, the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions would see "increased opportunities for criminals to take advantage" during home holidays.

"If you are travelling with your car to coastal and scenic areas this summer, plan your journey before you go. Check online if the location has a website or app with safety tips for visitors," he advised.

"Leave the expensive property at home if not required. Choose well serviced and well-lit car parks where possible. Avoid car parks with signs of public disorder or criminal damage, such as broken glass. Park legally, do not obstruct vehicles or entrances," he said.

Items like handbags, jackets, wallets, laptops, and shopping should never be left on view in the vehicle, he said.

"A good idea is to leave an empty glove box open, showing would-be criminals that there is nothing for them to steal," he said.

"As you leave double-check that your doors and windows are locked. Don’t be tempted to leave the windows slightly open. If you are the victim of a crime or if you see any suspicious activity call 999 or 112 and report it, "Sgt Leetch said.

#Rowing: Spectators at the Garda Boat Club witnessed a rare sight for an Irish crowd - a competitor breaking six minutes for 2,000 metres on the ergometer. Neptune's Ben Behr Heyder set a time of 5:59.8 at the Leinster Indoor Rowing competition to rousing cheers. The six foot six German had an explosive start at a rate of over 50 strokes per minutes and then eased down and looked remarkably calm from there. It was is third time to break the six minute mark.

 Breanna Larsen of Garda Boat Club woas the fastest woman, with a new personal best of 7:05.9. Eimear Lambe of UCD was the fastest under-23 woman - she set a time of 7:11.1.

Leinster Indoor Rowing Competition, Garda Boat Club (Selected Results)

Men

Open: B Behr-Heyder 5:59.8. Under-23: F Mulligan 6:21.4. Under-23 Lightweight: N Beggan 6:40.8. Novice (1,000m): C Guilfoyle 3:00.6. Under-18: N Hull 6:28.4. Under-16: J Gibney 6:53.2. Masters 30: A Maher 6:23.5.

Women

Open: B Larsen 7:05.9. Under-23: E Lambe 7:11.1. Novice (1,000m): C Hawker 3:35.8. Under-18: C Feerick 7:22.1. Under-16: A Keogh 7:41.8.

Masters 30: M Ragget 8:24.4.

#DroghedaPort - Drogheda Port was the base of a major emergency planning exercise this morning (Thursday 27 October) as Garda units and other emergency services simulated a three-stage hostage scenario, as The Irish Times reports.

In the first stage, the Garda Water Unit aided armed response officers in boarding a vessel detected acting suspiciously. This was followed by a hostage-taking simulation on the dock, concluding with an armed assault on a port warehouse to free the hostages.

The operation, which was expected to conclude by lunchtime, was focused on evaluating the emergency response capabilities of relevant units and personnel.

#Rowing: Portora took the men’s senior four and men’s senior pair at the Queen’s Regatta on Saturday at Castlewellan. Damien Kelly of Garda and Micheál Bailey of Neptune finished first and second in the men’s senior single. Commercial took the men’s club one eight and coxed fours. The host club took the women’s club one eight.

Irish Ferries has linked up with An Garda Siochana, to support their forthcoming ‘Chris Crossing’ charity boat row across the Irish Sea, the aim being to raise some €50,000 for the National Neurosurgical Centre at Beaumont Hospital.

Planned in memory of Garda Chris Byrne, who passed away in March 2016 as a result of a brain tumour, the event is being undertaken by 12 Gardaí from Dublin’s Store Street station. The 12-15 hours crossing from Dublin to Holyhead will take place in late May/early June, depending on weather conditions.

Irish Ferries will provide transport and other logistics support required to guarantee the success of the undertaking.

As part of the build-up, celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment will participate with Gardai in staging on-street rowing demonstrations at two Dublin city centre locations on Saturday, April 30th when they will row the equivalent of 500 metres as part of a Top Gear-themed time challenge. Participants also plan to raise money through a bucket collection at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium prior to the Ireland v Holland soccer international on May 29th.

A wider appeal for subscriptions asks members of the public to text Beaumont to 50300 to make a €4 donation, or online at www.beaumontfundraising.ie

Waterways Ireland has been requested by An Garda to limit boat movements on the Royal and Grand Canals in the Kildare area throughout this week from 25 to 31 January, during the course of an on-going investigation, particularly from the Dublin county boundary to Sallins and Maynooth respectively on the two canals.

Waterways Ireland asks that owners and masters abide by this request, and plan boat movements accordingly.

#Rowing: Breanna Larsen of Garda Boat Club set a fine personal best time of seven minutes 7.9 seconds at the Leinster Indoor Rowing competition at Garda Rowing Club on Saturday. Oblivious to the wind and rain outside, the women rowers from Garda, UCD and Trinity competed and set some good times. Trinity won the award for best female club, but Aileen Crowley of UCD took the under-23 title, clocking an impressive 7:13.30.  

Leinster Indoor Competition, Garda Boat Club, Saturday (Selected Results, 2,000m unless stated) Full Results Attached

Men

Open: 1 D Kelly 6:17.8, 2 C McShane 6:54.8, 3 P Murphy 7:12.4. Novice (1,000): C Harrington 3:11.7. Jun 18: 1 N Beggan 6:51.8, 2 J Phelan 6:53.3, 3 A Lennon 6:56.0. Jun 16: R Quinn 6:54.9. 

Masters 30+: D Quinn 6:31.40. Non-Rower (1,000m); 2:59.8.

Women

Open: 1 B Larsen 7:07.90 (PB), M Moore 7:20.10, 3 S O’Brien 7:23.6. Under-23:  A Crowley 7:13.30. Junior 18: E Lambe 7:18.90, 2 C Feerick 7:29.6, 3 J Coleman 7:48.7. Jun 16: S Maxwell 7:49.6. Lightweight: G Crowe 7:33.90.

Novice (1,000m): B O’Brien 3:29.8. 

#Rowing: Boating equipment worth €150,000 has been recovered by gardaí investigating the theft of boat engines. The haul included 74 outboard engines, ten boats and eight boat trailers. The public is asked to access the Garda social websites or ring 057 8674100 to arrange viewing.

 There have been a number of thefts of engines and equipment from rowing clubs and the National Rowing Centre in recent years.

#ROWING: Sam McKeown of Portadown won the intermediate single sculls, beating Damien Kelly of Garda, at Limerick Regatta today. The St Michael’s men’s senior pair came out on top and Portora won both the junior 18 and junior 16 men’s eights. Patrick Munnelly of Athlone won the final of the men’s junior 18 single sculls. The event had to be delayed for over an hour because of inclement weather and junior 14 events were cancelled. However, a meeting at the venue decided that the Irish Schools Regatta on Sunday will go ahead.

Limerick Regatta, O’Brien’s Bridge, Selected Results:

Men

Eight – Junior 18: 1 Portora, 2 St Joseph’s, 3 St Michael’s.

Junior 16: 1 Portora, 2 Col Iognáid, 3 St Joseph’s. Masters: St Michael’s.

Four – Senior: 1 Skibbereen, 2 St Michael’s.

Pair – Senior: 1 St Michael’s, 2 Neptune, 3 Shannon.

Sculling – Quadruple – Club Two: 1 Cork B, 2 Shandon, 3 Cork A. Junior 15, coxed, Final One: 1 Shandon A, 2 St Michael’s, 3 Killorglin. Final Two: Castleconnell.

Single – Intermediate: 1 Portadown (S McKeown), 2 Garda (D Kelly), 3 St Michael’s (D O’Connor). Junior 18: 1 Athlone (P Munnelly), 2 Graiguenamanagh (A Lennon), 3 Castleconnell (N Meehan).

Women

Eight – Junior 18: 1 Portora, 2 St Michael’s, 3 Galway.

Sculling, Quadruple – Junior 18: 1 Lee, 2 Fermoy, 3 Offaly.

Double – Junior 15: 1 Workmans, 2 Fermoy, 3 Lee A.

Annalise Murphy finished four points clear at the top of the leaderboard at Italian Olympic week yesterday and will be today's six–boat medal race favourite at the inaugural Eurosaf sailing cup on Lake Garda. Strong local 'Ora' winds are blowing on the lake this morning suiting the Irish sailor.

The 23-year-old Dun Laoghaire single–hander counts a string of five first places in her 47-boat fleet to lead Croatian sailor Tina Mihelic. Third is Finn Tuula Tenkanen.

Annalise just missed the podium in last year's Games. The Croatian came 17th in London and Tenkanen two places in front of sister Heidi who came 5th.

Annalise hit form on Wednesday afternoon bouncing back from a ninth in race one to score a first and second with five more wins following, stamping her heavy air authority on the fleet.

She ended the qualifying rounds however with a 29 and 7 describing yesterday 'as a pretty crazy day' on the lake with winds blowing from zero to 20-knots.

This 47-boat affair is not at World cup level but it is nevertheless a strong fleet and one where the National Yacht Club single-hander is proving herself after crashing out of the gold fleet of the World Cup in Hyères a fortnight ago.

The new Eurosaf series concept has been designed to complement ISAF's world cup and this week is its first outing with some new style competition formats.

live streaming of the medal race will be on Afloat.ie when available from local broadcasters

Laser Radial Finalists
1)IRL Murphy
2)CRO Mihelic
3)FIN Tenkanen T.
4)BLR Drozdovskaya
5)FIN Tenkanen H.
6)TUR Donertas

Top ten qualifying round results below: