Major decrease in burglaries in Offaly in the past year

Burglaries decreased by a massive 18% over the past year in the Laois/ Offaly Garda Division, newly released statistics shows.

This is equivalent to 319 burglaries. There were also decreases in the adjoining Tipperary and Kildare divisions.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) crime report outlines positive trends for burglaries over the last 12 months compared to the previous 12 months with an 8% decrease in burglaries (9,117 incidents) occurring nationally.

Data such as this could indicate that more homeowners are actively reviewing their home security measures and getting home alarms in an effort to combat burglaries.

Over the last 12 months, 21 of the 28 Gardaí divisions in Ireland have experienced a decrease in burglaries. The divisions with the highest rate of decreases in burglaries are Dublin Eastern Gardaí division at -26%, Wicklow at -23%, Cork West at -22% and Dublin Southern Gardaí division at -21%.

It should be noted however that 7 Gardaí divisions have had an increase in burglaries, 4 of these divisions are in the West of Ireland, with Clare reporting the highest increase of 23% (197 burglaries), followed closely by Mayo with a 22% increase (169 burglaries), Sligo and Leitrim division had a 17% increase (151 burglaries combined) and Galway 1% (385 burglaries). While Louth, Wexford and Dublin North Central all increased by 8%.

Since the start of 2022, there have been over 16,300 burglaries, which is far too many and it proves that as homeowners, we still have a lot more work to do.

Eoin Dunne, Managing Director of PhoneWatch advised, “There were 8,452 new dwelling completions in quarter 3 2023, an increase of over 14% in the same three months of 2022. As the availability of new houses thankfully rises, it means that the need for home security within these houses is necessary. At PhoneWatch we actively advise people on the home security features best suited to their homes, individual needs, and budget.”

You can mitigate the chances of enduring a burglary by protecting your home through safety measures, including installing a monitored alarm system. According to An Garda Síochána reports, 26% of burglars enter homes through the back door, 24% via back windows and 8% through front windows, with 1 in 5 cases involving a burglar gaining access through an unsecure door or window. PhoneWatch urges homeowners to always be alert and protect their homes in all ways possible.