Dublin’s notorious ‘Night Prowler’ strikes again when a burglar torments 20 residents with a devious double-hit plot

A famous ‘Night Prowler’ from Dublin has struck again at a quiet estate just days after he attacked the owners during a night of terror.

We told readers Saturday how the thief thug, who was given the creepy nickname by a local councilor, rocked Stepaside with a series of robbery attempts in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Footage obtained by Dublin Live showed the thief testing a home and car on the quiet, familiar estate with multiple reports of attempted break-ins in the area.

And the man, who carries out the robberies dressed entirely in black, returned for the second assault Sunday night, hitting as many as twenty houses and cars.

Hoping for a double hit, the bully checks the car doors first before attempting to break into the front door of the house as part of his calculated home and car invasion plan.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Councilor Michael Fleming told Dublin Live: “The Stepaside Prowler has struck again.

“I have been in contact with 20 residents who have told me that their cars, sheds and houses were broken into last night.

“I want to thank everyone from Cruagh who contacted me this morning at the farm.

“I have contacted the Gardaí in Stepaside regarding this matter.

“Please be vigilant and make sure your car is locked and no valuables are in sight.

“Also make sure your shed and house are securely closed.”

He added: “Gardaí has ​​recovered some of the property stolen from last night.”

Labor Party councilor for the area, Lettie McCarthy, warned locals about the man over the weekend.

She said, “Is your car locked? Video of cars in the Stepaside area being searched at 2am.

She added: “A lot of chancers look for keyless cars every night, so don’t make it easy on these night prowlers.”

The man was seen by multiple cameras on the farm and many residents reported the incidents to Gardai and the neighborhood watch.

An alert to residents read: “If you see anything suspicious, please call the Stepaside Garda station on 01 6665700”.

Officers have shared some tips to help protect your home from burglary before the winter months, when crime generally spikes.

Operation Thor’s winter phase, which addresses the anticipated spike in thefts, began last week and should last until the end of March.

Since its inception in 2015, the annual Operation Thor has significantly reduced the number of these crimes on property across the country.

Theft incidents increase by 20% in the winter months when daylight hours are at their lowest and most crimes take place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Simple steps can help protect your home, so whether you are at home or on the go, remember:

• Turn on some lights
• Use timer switches
• Lock all doors and windows
• Use an alarm
• Keep keys away from windows
• Do not keep large amounts of cash or jewelry in the house

Commenting on the current winter phase of Operation Thor, Deputy Commissioner John O’Driscoll, responsible for Serious and Organized Crime, said: “An Garda Síochána has launched the winter phase of Operation Thor with a renewed focus on disrupting and prevent theft and related crimes.

“This type of crime has a particularly devastating effect on its victims and we at An Garda Síochána are determined to impact the activities of the criminals involved in the commission of this crime.”

Burglaries have decreased in 2020 during the pandemic with 43.1% fewer residential incidents compared to the same period last year.