Warning after men claiming to be gardai target elderly people's homes

Three cases have been reported in Meath- two where men claimed to be gardai investigating crimes around counterfeit notes who asked to see the elderly people's cash. The latest incident was just at lunchtime today in Oldcastle.

Gardai are urging people, especially elderly people, to be on alert after three incidents in Meath where men pretending to be Gardai called to homes of elderly people. In two of the cases, they claimed they were investigating crimes involving counterfeit notes while details of the third incident, which just happened at lunchtime today are still emerging.

At around 1.15pm today, two men pretending to be Gardai called to the home of an elderly lady at Lurganboy, Oldcastle and gained entry to the house to commit a burglary. No vehicle was seen in the vicinity. Details have not yet emerged on whether the culprits used the ploy that they were investigating crimes involving counterfeit notes, as was the case in the two previous incidents in Rathmolyon and Dunsany.

Gardai are investigating whether these recent cases in Meath are linked and if they are also linked to further incidents in Louth and Cavan.

At Tuesday, at around 12.20pm, a man called to the home of an elderly man in the Castletown area of Rathmolyon purporting to be a garda. He informed him that he was investigating a crime involving counterfeit notes and that he needed to see the cash that the man had in order to check it. Fortunately, a caller came to the man's home at this point and the male then fled the house empty-handed. Gardai believe a silver/grey coloured car may have been waiting for the culprit in the area.

It follows a similar incident in the Glane Great area of Dunsany on Friday, 19th November, where two men pretending to be detectives called to an elderly man's home at around 10am and showed him something that appeared similar to a Garda badge. They showed the man a sum of money claiming that they were investigating a crime involving counterfeit notes and they informed him that they needed to see all of his cash in order to compare it with the money they had.

The culprits then entered the house and proceeded to take a sum of cash from his bedroom.

Meath Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Dean Kerins said: "Gardai calling to homes will never ask you anything to do with cash.

"We simply will never call to a house morning, noon, or night and asking any questions about cash."

He added that Gardai are recommending that people do not keep large sums of cash in the house. "That is the only reason these people are coming into older people's houses. They are looking for cash".

Sgt Kerins said every stranger that calls should be treated as a bogus caller. "Make sure you can see who is outside before you open the door. If in any doubt press your alarm pendant or ring Gardai. Stay inside and if the Garda is legitimate, he will leave his card and come again. Don't leave yourself exposed. The only reason they are contacting older and vulnerable people is simply to steal cash."

Anyone with information on any of the above incidents is asked to contact the local garda stations or the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein TD for Meath West Johnny Guirke has called on people to check on their elderly neighbours after a spate of thefts on elderly and vulnerable people.

"Over the last number of weeks, reports have come in of thieves posing as gardai and gaining entrance to homes of the elderly. Just today, another incident happened in my own area of Oldcastle as two men gained access to an elderly lady’s home.

"These thieves are targeting the most vulnerable in society at a time where they are already frightened about Covid. I urge everyone to check in on your elderly neighbours and make sure they are safe.

"To pose as a Gardai, deceive the occupant and steal from a person's home is not acceptable and I urge anyone with information to come forward."