FROM THE ARCHIVES: MARCH 5th, 1985.Concerns about crime are never far from the surface and were particularly acute in the mid-1980s when The Irish Timesran a Crime Watch column by Padraig Yeates which monitored the Garda radio for some hours every day, revealing the extent of mainly petty crime in Dublin. This is a four-hour extract from the one published on this day in 1985.
TWO ALARMS go off at 7.40pm on Dublin Industrial Estate, Finglas. Local patrol car asked to assist. Call repeated at 7.45 pm. Units in the area are tied up dealing with vandals at nearby railway line. Also heavy interference on the airwaves in some areas by a pirate radio station.
7.50pmMan kicks in door of surgery at Rutland Street. He's wearing a blue balaclava with a red stripe around the eyes and blue denims and carrying a shotgun. Leaves before gardaí arrive. Suspected drug raider.
7.55pmTwo youths, also wearing blue balaclavas and blue denims, raid Rialto Credit Union. One is carrying a fireman's axe and the other a handgun, thought to be an imitation. They make off with £407.83. No one is injured. From the limited description, both are thought to be well-known delinquents. One is the leading suspect for the robbery of a local bookmakers the previous Saturday.
8pmCall from Pizzaland in O'Connell Street asking where is the patrol car requested some time earlier to investigate a handbag snatch. Across the inner city, three Alsatians are roaming in Donore Avenue annoying passersby.
8.15pmPatrol car is sent to Donahies, where a gang of youths is acting suspiciously near a telephone booth. Call for assistance at Baldoyle Youth Club.
8.25pmHouseholder "very distraught" at Ryevale Lawns. "Three gougers" he disturbed in the garden threatening to come back and beat him up. Lima (Ballyfermot patrol car) told to respond as matter of urgency.
8.29pmRobbery at business premises in New Cabra Road. Local detective unit not responding to calls for assistance. Patrol car directed there instead.
8.50pmTrouble at Woodbine Youth Club in Raheny. Garda assistance sought.
9.17pmCIE bus blocked by parked cars on its way into Bray. Patrol car sent to assist.
10.12pmGang of youths stoning watchman in Ferrycarrig Road, Coolock. They run off as gardaí arrive. Shortly afterwards, gardaí summoned to break up group of disorderly youths in laneway beside Howth Junction station.
10.32pmUnmarked garda car attacked by gang of 100 youths beside St Mary's Mansions in the north inner city. The windows are smashed and the driver is struck in the face with a stone. Another garda in the car is also injured. Both require urgent hospital treatment, one with glass in the eye. In nearby Railway Street, a uniformed garda is pursued by members of the same gang.
10.40pmAs other C (Store Street) District cars go to assist embattled members around St Mary's Mansions, one car is detailed off to serve a summons in Raheny. It's the last day before it is due to expire.
10.47pmJoyriders coming to life in Ballyfermot. A blue Datsun Bluebird, an Opel Kadett and Toyota Corolla are under surveillance.
10.50pmFactory break-ins in Inchicore and Stillorgan Industrial Estate. Gardaí called to stop fight in Dr Steevens' [Hospital] casualty unit and a bad family row at Galtymore Road, Drimnagh. A patrol car is summoned on a false alarm to the Australian ambassador's residence in Cabinteely.
11.02 pm
Patrol car sent to investigate vehicle parked behind Cathal Brugha barracks for the past two days and check if it’s on stolen list.
11.07pmUnmarked cars finding difficulty contacting Garda Control.
11.11pmMan shouting obscenities in Ranelagh village and heading on foot towards city centre. Patrol car sent to apprehend him.
11.22 pmDundrum gardaí monitoring traffic after pub closing time find they don't have adequate road signs. Car dispatched with signs for checkpoints.
11.45pmAll-unit alert for VIP leaving Dublin Castle for a centre city hotel. Local alert for Tallaght, where a stolen Ford Granada is sighted on the Knockmore estate.
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