Homeowners warned over burglaries

DARING burglars are stealing tens of millions in cash and valuables from under the noses of house owners in daylight robberies.

A report shows six out of 10 burglaries are committed while properties are occupied.

The prime time for burglaries is between noon and 8pm.

Thieves stole more than €62 million, including €10m cash, from Irish homes last year.

The Eircom Phonewatch burglary report, launched yesterday, showed that house break-ins increased significantly nationwide, up 18% in Dublin and 25% in provincial areas.

Phonewatch chief executive Nick Quigley said householders were not taking enough care.

Despite the alarming increase, he said, people, including those with security systems, were not taking enough care.

“Our report indicates that, in some cases, people who have burglar alarms may not be using them properly,” he said.

“They may nip down to the shops or collect the kids from school while leaving a door or window unsecured.

“The fact that six-in-10 burglaries take place in occupied homes shows how it’s essential people become more security conscious while they are in the house.”

The latest garda crime report showed almost 15,000 residential burglaries occurred in 2001.

The garda detection rate was 28%.

The Phonewatch report, based on a sample of more than 13,900 household insurance claims in 12 months up to June 1, said the average value of goods and cash stolen from each home was 3,500.

Nearly two out of every three break-ins occurred in homes without alarm systems.

Mr Quigley said less than 20% of Irish homes had security systems.

Pointing out the high incidence of daytime burglaries (47%) he said: “The findings show the need for homeowners to be more diligent about their household security.”

Dublin accounted for 42% of all burglaries, with Limerick, at almost 10%, recording the highest number of break-ins outside the capital.

Cork was the only major urban centre recording a drop, with the most dramatic increase in burglaries, up 38%, in Co Louth.

Among the residential areas least likely to be burgled are Dublin 10, which includes Ballyfermot, and the capital’s city centre, including O’Connell Street, Dorset Street, Mountjoy Square and Parnell Square.

The most vulnerable residences are semi-detached and detached houses which account for three in every five burglaries.

Nearly 50% of break-ins occur through rear windows and rear patio doors while 23% of housebreakers gain access through the front door.

This figure climbs to 58% when Dublin is combined with the surrounding counties of Kildare, Wicklow and Meath, an increase of 16.5% on last year.

However, the most dramatic increase in burglaries over the 12 months from June 2002 to June 2003 was outside Dublin, where there was an increase of 25%.