Burglary rates halve over garda checks
The incidents of non-aggravated burglary in the Cork City, Cork North, and Cork West garda divisions have reduced by 42% in the first quarter of the year, compared to the same period last year, the Cork County joint policing committee (JPC) was told.
Chief Superintendent Ger Dillane said the reduction from 424 such incidents in the first quarter of last year to 248 such incidents since January, was due in part to the success of sustained garda operations such as Operation Thor and Operation Exit.
But he also credited a community-based text alert system which reports the suspicious vehicle movements in rural areas.
Gardaí have been mounting random high-visibility checkpoints every 25 minutes up to three nights a week on the roundabouts and exit ramps off the main Cork to Dublin motorway in a bid to crack down on roaming criminal gangs.
The operation was established after analysis showed criminal gangs were targeting rural areas up to 3km off the motorways, and using the main road to make good their escape.
The JPC was told while some rural communities have expressed concern at the regularity of the checkpoints in their areas, Chief Supt Dillane said they have proven to be a very effective deterrent, with no burglaries being reported in the areas and on the nights the checkpoints were mounted.
He said: “We are not trying to harass people, or hound people. These checkpoints are being mounted to protect people.”
He urged communities to remain vigilant and encouraged residents with outhouses and storage sheds to consider fitting them with alarms to protect valuable machinery.
The Garda figures showed a 15% increase in theft of vehicles in the first quarter of the year, with a tractor and a golf buggy among the 76 reported vehicle thefts since January.
The incidents of interference with a vehicle have decreased this quarter, but Chief Supt Dillane urged people to take simple and sensible security precautions.
The JPC was told gardaí recently discovered 16 of 140 vehicles parked outside homes in just one estate were left unlocked that night.
And criminals who have been apprehended told gardaí they are only targeting unlocked cars.
“As the weather improves, and as more people head to beaches and for walks, we would encourage them to leave no valuables whatsoever in their vehicles,” said Chief Supt Dillane.
With the crime figures showing a 28% reduction in theft from the person, he urged people to be aware of handbag dipping — where criminals target shoppers who leave handbags open and unattended in trollies.
He told the JPC that members of an organised crime gang, who had been flying in to Ireland to carry out the crimes, had been apprehended at Dublin Airport and brought before the courts.
Gardaí are now engaging with retailers to help them minimise this crime risk for customers.
