Speed signs: A battery charge!

There are battery bandits roaming around Cork!

The not so positively charged news about people thieving batteries from speed monitoring signs came to light this week.

Cllr Michael Looney brought the issue to the attention of senior gardaí at the Cork County Joint Policing Committee meeting.

He said he was previously told by a garda to put a dial lock on the feedback signs but it didn’t work.

He said batteries were missing in places like Tower, Donoughmore and Waterloo.

“It’s a huge, huge drawback because often it might be the only speed sign in an area and they are a great deterrent in stopping people from speeding in their vehicles.

“The batteries are worth very little in scrap but I think they might be used for lamping because they are a slower release battery and lamping is dazzling by night,” the Fianna Fáil councillor said.

Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin told Cllr Looney that Cork’s crime prevention officers are aware of it and are trying to give advice as how to best to prevent incidents like this from occurring.

He said: “Monitoring of speed is crucial and we will keep a close eye on it and circulate the news that it’s happening.”

He added: “I saw one myself on Sunday within five kilometres of where I reside that had been tampered with and the battery had been taken out of it. They are often in places where there’s no houses so they can be vulnerable. We will talk to our counterparts in Cork County Council to see how best to go forward.”