Property marking workshop at Streete Parish Park

Streete Parish Park was a busy place last Friday evening as members of north Westmeath community groups took part in another round of training on the Property Marking Machine.

The device etches a physical mark on a piece of valuable property such as a bike, laptop, or tools, with small dots in the pattern of the owner’s Eircode – to make it harder for criminals to sell on stolen property.

Kevin Brady of Streete Watch Community Alert said this was the second time for training on the machine to take place in Streete, following a successful launch in 2021.

Westmeath PPN Secretariat sourced funding for the machine via the Community Activities Fund, administered by the Westmeath County Council. The Covid-19 pandemic delayed the full take-up of training to use the machine, and changes of staff at the council also slightly delayed the full roll-out to communities, but the project is now gaining momentum.

Westmeath County Council are committed to the property marking project, supported by the Joint Policing Committee and An Garda Síochána.

Kevin said: "I was delighted to be contacted by Mark Ahern, PPN resource worker, Westmeath County Council Community and Development Section, who said training was back and we offered our facilities here at Streete Parish Park."

The training was delivered by retired Muintir na Tíre regional development officer James O’Neill, whose idea the Text Alert system was in 1995; he is also the developer of this crime prevention initiative.

James said: "Every day gardaí recover property and make every effort to reunite it to its rightful owner, and property marking acts as a deterrent to would-be criminals who steal the items in the first place.

"If property is stolen, Property Marking increases the chances of items being recovered and returned to their owners, and speeds up the process of prosecuting those involved."

James said he was delighted to see a great response from communities in and around Streete, and grateful to Streete Watch Community Alert for supporting and assisting in the training in at the Parish Park Community Centre.

James thanked Mark Ahern for his work on this project and said "hopefully it will provide a safety barrier in the prevention of crime in rural communities".

"I ask members of community groups, especially farmers, who are particularly vulnerable, to engage with Westmeath PPN, who have a list of registered groups providing upcoming training. The Property Marking machine offers people an opportunity to put a distinctive mark on their machinery and for households to mark quads, bicycles, lawnmowers, and other valuable items."

Thanks were extended to James and to Property Marking Ireland for their assistance.

Among the participants on the training course here in Streete were Community Watch groups, Men’s Shed, and Streete Wildlife Club. Further opportunities to engage in training will take place later in the year.