“We really feel it is time to go cashless. It’s safer for our employees and safer for our business. Hopefully, those who are causing us such hassle will bugger off now.”

The number of burglaries in homes across Ireland fell by 50% in the winter of 2018/2019 when compared to the same period four years earlier.

Burglary rates in Cork have increased by almost 10% in the year to the end of September, despite overall rates falling in most other parts of the country.

Violent property crime has risen sharply, with a 17% increase in offences in the last year, Garda figures show.

Burglaries in two of Cork’s three garda divisions have shot up by a third in the 12 months to the end of March.

The number of burglaries in Ireland fell by a quarter in the final two months of 2017, say the gardaí.

New figures from An Garda Síochána show that burglarlies fell 23% in the last two months of 2017.

Five men have been arrested after a spate of car break-ins and separate burglary incidents across Cork.

The organised crime group is using high powered cars to travel from Dublin, and to identify homes where the owners are out.

Two teenagers have been charged in connection with an investigation into burglaries in Co Offaly.

Four men have been arrested in connection with a spate of burglaries in Monaghan Town.

Wexford is the county with the most burglaries by head of population.

The Government is to shortly publish a bill which will specifically target repeat burglars and lead to tougher sentencing.

Gardaí have put on extra patrols in North and East Cork following a spate of burglaries, many of which are being perpetrated in broad daylight by criminals from Dublin.

A babysitter has chased away two burglars after they broke into a house where she was looking after two young children.