Crooks – wearing hoods and face coverings – have been caught on CCTV checking car handles

19:37, 07 Feb 2026Updated 20:27, 07 Feb 2026

CCTV footage of thieves searching through a jeep in Glenville, near Watergrasshill

CCTV footage of thieves searching through a jeep in Glenville, near Watergrasshill

A special Garda Awareness meeting has been organised in Cork following a spate of thefts and attempted vehicle robberies from a brazen, organised group of crooks.

The event will take place at the Holy Family Centre in Glenville, near Watergrasshill, this Tuesday, 10th February at 7.30pm. Gardaí will be in attendance to spread awareness of the recent incidents and listen to local concerns about what appears to be a mobile gang operating along the M8 corridor between Cork City and North Cork. Over the past seven days, there have been a number of car thefts in the wider Glanmire area, as Glenville locals were also targeted by a group wearing hoods and face coverings caught on CCTV jumping garden walls and checking for unlocked vehicles.

One local told Cork Beo that from their movements, it seemed they knew which properties had CCTV – suggesting the thieves were carrying out a planned, systematic sweep through properties in the area. It’s believed Glenville was targeted three times over the past week – last Sunday and in the early hours of Tuesday and Wednesday mornings – and crooks made away with a number of personal belongings. This includes one handbag, which was later found tossed on a road in the area after a sum of cash was taken from it.

Speaking to Cork Beo, member of the Glenville Community Council, Maureen Burgess, said their community has set up a WhatsApp channel in response to the recent incidents, where locals can raise the alarm about suspicious activity in the area. In the upcoming meeting, she said she will also be speaking with Gardaí about bringing back a Text Alert system. This is a one-way communication system from the Gardaí, which works based on reports from members of the public.

Once someone reports an incident to their local Garda District telephone number, an officer can then review the details and decide whether to use a Text Alert system. They may then send a text or e-mail to each registered Community Contact in their Garda District. Each Community Contact forwards the text to their Community Group to tell the public about the incident and to report any developments

Maureen said that next week’s meeting is not only for Glenville residents – concerned members of surrounding communities can also attend. The centre can be found at T56 AE73.