Shannonbridge family’s frustration at trailer theft from farm

The Shannonbridge farmer who had a trailer stolen last weekend had been the victim of crime in the past.

An Ifor Williams 12 by 6 trailer owned by Kevin Hynes was stolen at around 5.30am on Saturday morning last.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent, Kevin's daughter Karen said that the incident was “very frustrating” as it wasn't the first time that her family's farm had been targeted by criminals.

“We have been in this situation before. We had a trailer and a mare and foal taken out of the yard around 15 years ago. We got the mare and foal back. It was thanks to the public. I put it in the Farmer's Journal, I actually paid to highlight that they were stolen and a farmer happened to see them. We went the whole way to Clare to pick them up, but we didn't get the trailer back.

“You go from one thing to the other, putting locks on gates, locks on trailers, different prevention measures and it just doesn't stop them.

“...It always seems to be happening on bank holidays when they know that people are kind of off and there might not be as many people on the roads as well. They all have their homework well done. They have their routes and they know what they are doing.”

Karen said that her father used the €6,500 trailer for transporting cattle and horses.

“We sold our horse box because we said what was the point in having two trailers sitting outside. You are always thinking in the back of your mind that it's going to be robbed. Always thinking is it locked? Did I lock it?”

Since the theft at the weekend, Karen has posted messages on social media and contacted community alert groups in the hope that someone may be able to help her family locate the trailer.

“You are relying on the general public. The guards can't do everything. There are 10 different things coming into them every hour and they don't have the manpower. You have to try and help. They can only do so much.

“I know it's a hot topic at the moment but it could appear in 12 months. I would even be looking further down the line. Not this week or next week. Especially when there are no fairs or markets or fairs on at the moment.”

Anyone who may have any information about the theft are asked to contact Ballinasloe Garda Station on 0909631890.