House break-ins fall by 50% in icy spell

BURGLARIES fell by more than 50% across the country in the first 14 days of the year as criminals stayed indoors because of the icy weather.

Figures provided by gardaí show significant decreases in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Dublin, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Clare, which they directly attribute to the reluctance by criminals to venture out on roads that were icy, covered with snow or flooded.

In north Cork the number of burglaries dropped by nearly 50% compared with this time last year.