Fifty residents in Caledon have been provided with personal safety alarms after a number of random attacks and break-ins have left them feeling unsafe in their own village.
It is understood that 2-in-1 safety alarms and torch keyrings were handed out on January 18 after Councillor Frances Burton put in a request for their dispersal with PCSP.
Once received, community group, Caledon in the Loop notified the public that alarms were available to anyone who should wish to avail – just 24 hours later all had been collected.
Speaking about the general feeling of unease in the village, Caledon in the Loop admin, Katie O’Donoghue said: “I couldn’t believe it. There were 50 alarms given to me and all of them went within 24 hours.
“I still have people asking for more so there is still a need for them.
“I think there is a general feeling of people not feeling safe. A woman said she was afraid to walk her dog and that was day or night and another said they were afraid to take their bins out. It’s not even just that people are afraid to go out at night, they are just generally afraid.
“Some of the previous attacks were in broad daylight and were unprovoked so that’s where the unpredictability comes in.”
The 2-in-1 aspect of the personal safety alarms means that once the pin is pulled from the receiver body it will sound a high-pitch alarm and the torch will flash a ‘rapid-blink’ white light to alert passers-by to the whereabouts of the person in need.
However, Katie remains hopeful that the mere circulation of the alarms in the village will prevent their need for use.
“A lot of people say it’s just given them that wee bit of safety and others say that, even the fact people know the alarms are in circulation in the area, should act as a deterrent.
“I am planning to do a video to show people how to use it and to let them know what it sounds like so that if they hear the sound they will know what it is.”
With the uptake of alarms surpassing Katie’s expectations, she made a list of names for those interested and prioritsed their dispersal among those she deemed most vulnerable.
She suspects that 95% of the alarms have been given to women – particularly those living alone, those responsible for opening and closing local businesses and more elderly residents.
The remainder she said have been given to elderly, male dog walkers.
The alarms have been a starting point to help restore a feeling of safety in the area, but both Katie and Councillor Burton have plans to take this a few steps further.
“I am in the process of trying to set up, in response to this, a WhatsApp group which will predominantly include women.
“The idea will be if they are going out for a walk that they can post in to see if anyone wants to come with them so they won’t be out alone but it also alerts people to someone’s route and what time they will be out at.”
Katie said Councillor Burton has also been working with her to arrange a meeting with a number of village “representatives” with the view of implementing further safety measures and to potentially establish a neighbourhood watch programme.
Of the anticipated meeting, Councillor Burton said: “We do hope to have a crime prevention meeting in Caledon very soon just to allay people’s concerns in any relation to crime.
“Before Christmas there was a number of thefts and burglaries and it always raises tensions in and around those times.
“It’s really just to reassure the public in the Caledon and the rural Minterburn, Dyan and towards Aughnacloy area that there is support out there and the Crime Prevention Officer is willing and able to give out anti-theft locks and the police are able to do trailer marking and quad marking.”
