This is the reality of life for too many terrified homeowners in rural Ireland; masked gangs brazenly trying to rob their houses under cover of darkness.

In this case, the burglars were filmed and recorded by a doorbell camera at the residence which was unoccupied at the time – and that realisation caused them to turn on their heels and flee.

The doorbell camera is exactly the type of security that Galway Gardaí are this week advising householders and property owners to deploy – to ‘think security’ as the evenings close in and burglars exploit the extra hours of darkness.

The most common times for winter break-ins is between 5pm and 11pm and Gardaí have advised the public to always ‘lock up and light up’ to try and thwart burglars during their peak time of criminal activity.

Garda Detective Superintendent Shane Cummins told the Connacht Tribune said that simple measures such as closing gates, locking doors and having house and sheds well lit up were important deterrents to criminals.

“It certainly is worth considering having an alarm system installed while there are a good selection of cameras available – including doorbell cameras – at fairly reasonable cost,” said Det Supt Cummins.

This video still is taking from a recent incident at a house in the Gurteen area near Ballinasloe, in which a three-man gang wearing balaclavas was observed on camera preparing to break into the residence – highlighting the importance of home security measures.

The three would-be burglars left the scene of the house without breaking in – after realising that they were being filmed. The incident occurred on Wednesday of last week at around 8pm when the gang was caught on camera entering the garden area at the house; the house owner, Mary Keenan was working at the time.

Galway East General Election candidate Clodagh Higgins highlighted the case this week and said that the gang had fled because of the home security system that Ms. Keenan had in place.

Caption: Surveillance footage of three masked men at Mary Keenan’s home in Gurteen, Ballinasloe.

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