The Camross hurling manager believes he was targeted during hurling training when thieves stole farm equipment worth €10,000.
Arien Delaney has offered a reward for information which leads to the return of a stolen quad bike and trailer.
“These crimes are rampant. A neighbour down the road was emptied out and another neighbour’s house was broken into. I know of another house in Castletown that was broken into, as well,” he said.
“I want to heighten awareness of what’s going on,” he said.
“I will be like a dog with a bone until I get these back,” he said.
He added that people only had a small opportunity to take the goods, as he was only out at training one evening, and the machinery was there before he left.
It was gone the following morning.
The items stolen were a Red 2007 Suzuki Kingquad 700 and Ifor Williams livestock trailer with decks stolen on Monday/Tuesday night.
Insider job
“I believe it is an insider job. There are too many things going missing on the farm when people are out for a while,” he said.
“It’s no coincidence – I go to training and the next minute the quad bike and trailer are gone,” he said.
He said he would hear any equipment being driven down his lane, so he believes it must have been taken while he was out for a matter of hours.
Arien said Gardai believe the thieves may have hidden the stolen items locally, and plan to move it later when the coast is clear.
There is a very good community alert group in operation in the area, Arien added, so hopefully someone may come forward with information.
He hopes that people in the area will keep an eye out on their land and in outhouses etc for the items, if they have been stashed for later removal.
Farm thefts had reduced somewhat following arrests and convictions a number of months back, but Arien believes they are on the rise again.
Security
As well as the loss of valuable equipment, Arien is upping his security and getting steel gates and a new wall built on his property to make it as difficult as possible for thieves to get away with items.
Despite the setback, Arien says they are very focused on doing well in the Leinster Club Championship.
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