More than one million text messages alerting people about potential criminal activity in their area have been sent under the garda text alert system.

New figures from An Garda Síochána show that there are more than 100,000 people signed-up to the scheme from 550 groups in towns and villages across the country.

The system was officially launched in September 2013 and is operated by the gardaí with Muintir na Tíre, Neighbourhood Watch and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

It enables communities to set up a group to receive alerts advising them of suspicious or criminal activity in their area.

As well as ensuring awareness among users, it can also lead to them reporting suspicious activity to the gardai.

An example of its effectiveness can be seen in a recent case of theft in the Midlands.

A man reported the theft of his vehicle to gardaí and identified a suspect vehicle involved in the theft. It was also believed that this suspect vehicle had been involved in the theft of another vehicle the day before.

A text alert was sent out to targeted areas regarding the suspicious vehicle. Acting on information received back, gardaí were able to intercept the vehicle and four men were arrested for theft of items.

Assistant Commissioner Jack Nolan said: "We have found that as an immediate, cost effective method of engagement with the communities we serve, text alert is invaluable. It would appear from these levels of usage the public also feel it is a valuable way to help prevent and tackle crime."

While Patrick Walsh from Neighbourhood Watch said: "Communities have experienced a reduction in burglaries since we engaged with text alert, and the scheme will help to sustain the continued effort by both the Gardaí and Neighbourhood Watch members."

The system was developed by Garda Community Relations Bureau, in conjunction with Muintir na Tíre, in 2007 and was piloted successfully in Kerry in 2008.