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The Gardaí are teaming up with local businesses
A new business watch scheme is being set up due to an increase in shop lifting in Westmeath.
The Athlone Chamber is behind the initiative after figures from local Gardai showed a rise in thefts from businesses in the last six months.
It's hoped the inititaive will also reduce the circulation of counterfeit notes.
The Chamber says local business can join the scheme by contacting the Gardaí at westmeath.crimeprevention@garda.ie with the title of your email being Athlone Business Watch Scheme, in the body of he email include your name, name of the business, contact phone number and email address.
The Business Watch Scheme will be launched on the 24th of March.
Chamber President, Alan Shaw says a similar scheme in Mullingar has chosen schemes like this are beneficial in the fight against crime: