Crime « Thurles Information

Tipperary Gardaí Arrest Two Drug Drivers

An Garda Síochána, latter operating “Anti-Crime Checkpoints” today in the areas of Cahir and Cashel Co. Tipperary, stopped two motorists.

**Picture courtesy An Garda Síochána, Tipperary**.

The first driver presented what appeared to be a fake driving licence. Same was confirmed using the Garda Mobility App. The driver was then arrested on suspicion of drug Driving, after testing positive for Cannabis use. His licence was seized for further forensic examination

The second driver, latter an unaccompanied learner driver, with no L-plates on display, tested positive for cocaine and cannabis use. His vehicle was seized and he himself was also arrested.

Thurles – Beware Of Smishing Scam

Smishing, as many people will be aware, is a scam where fraudsters send text messages to random mobile phones. It gets its name from a combination of the words ‘SMS’ (as in text message) and Phishing, latter which attempts to lure individuals into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, banking and credit card details, and passwords.

This morning Thurles.Info received a message from one of our very alert readers.

Our reader writes:-

“I thought I would let you know about a very sophisticated Smishing Scam that was tried on me this morning.

I received a text from +0818752752. The text contained a genuine looking tracking number and the following message: “Your delivery has been stopped at our depot today 24/08/20. Please resolve the issue here: followed by a link that I won’t reproduce here”.

No company name and the link was http not https, which made me suspicious! But the lure in such matters is always very strong – especially if you have an online order pending!

Anyway, I fired up Windows 10 Virtual Sandbox, opened a browser in it and typed in the link I was given.

This brought me to a very realistic looking courier website, albeit a courier I hadn’t heard of before.

They had “tracked my package” and told me there was a problem with a big flashing button “Continue”! I cautiously followed on – safe in my virtual machine!

They explained there was a delivery charge due and if I didn’t pay it in the next 24 hours my package would be returned! Eventually I landed on a payments page with a very dodgy looking URL in the address bar. This was looking for all my details, name address, phone number and of course credit card details. It even had a small charge pre-filled on the payment amount field.

At this point I closed the browser and the virtual session.

I have the matter reported it to my local Garda Station.

This is the most sophisticated scam I have seen yet and is designed to prey on people who are ordering a lot more online these days due to Covid restrictions.”

Please be warned and to our alert reader ‘Sir, Many Thanks’

Man Arrested In Tipperary Following House Search

Picture Courtesy An Garda Síochána. *(Irish Police)*

Yesterday evening, at approximately 5.30pm, members of the Clonmel District Drugs Unit; Clonmel Detective Branch and the Southern Regional Dog Unit, searched an address at Cherrymount, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

Suspected amphetamines with an estimated street value of €1,500 were seized, together with digital scales, mixing agent, deal bags and a small amount of cannabis.

A man in his 30’s has now been arrested and remains currently detained at Clonmel Garda Station.

Further investigations are ongoing.

August Bank Holiday 2020 News Items

(1) Drugs:

Eleven drivers of mechanical propelled vehicles have been arrested on suspicion of drug driving in Co. Tipperary this weekend alone. We are aware that one driver tested positive for Cocaine on Western Road, Clonmel, following a road- side test.

(2) Thurles Road Closure:

Motorists, particularly regular users of the (R498) Thurles to Nenagh road are being warned that the section at Latteragh will close (with diversians in place) from Monday August 10th 2020, for some 12 days, to facilitate action on 5 long years of debated emergency roadworks.

The council has now been given the go-ahead for a €14m realignment of the Latteragh bends area, which will involve the construction of a complete new stretch of roadway. Hopefully flora, fauna and fish residing in the nearby Nenagh River, will not bring the project to a halt on this occasaion.

(3) Thurles To Get €25,000 To Aid Town’s Economic Woes

Wow, this is actually a fact; Minister for Rural & Community Development, Ms Heather Humphreys, has announced the lodgement of some €25,000, into a fund targeting activities to encourage people back into the local town of Thurles, and to ‘shop local’, after the town centre was destroyed by Tipperary Co. Council, with the greedy introduction of parking charges.
We understand also it is intended to open a voluntary tourism office to market and promote Thurles. [Funny that; I was convinced we already had a voluntary tourism office to market to promote the area.]
Still, maybe we are to obtain a new Tourism office, one that actually attracts tourists.
One wonders what all of the rest of this vast funding will be mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted on; in a year that Liberty Square is supposed to be upgraded.

Drug Dealer In Tipperary Arrested

Gardaí continue their war on drugs and those dealing in illegal substances, here in Co. Tipperary.

Cahir District Drugs Unit arrested a drug dealer in Cahir town on Friday evening. Latter was found to be in possession of Cannabis to the value of approx €1,500 and carrying over €2,500 in cash.

We understand the male attempted to evade Gardaí, before being finally arrested. The cash, a mobile phone and cannabis herb were recovered and further investigations are now ongoing.