Limerick crime rate drop ‘due to weather’

THE head of the Limerick Garda division said yesterday a huge drop in crime, particularly burglaries, during the month of January in Limerick city and county, was possibly due to the icy weather preventing criminals travelling on the treacherous road conditions.

Chief Supt John Kerin said latest figures for the Limerick division showed a 37% drop in crime, overall, compared with the same period in 2009.

He said: “Burglaries have fallen 27% from 123 incidents in January 2009 to 90 in January 2010.”

Chief Supt Kerin said house break-ins in rural areas were on the increase over the past three years and extra Garda resources had been deployed to tackling those type of crimes.

He said: “Burglaries during January were way down and one reason may be that the icy road weather may have been a factor as criminals could not move around due to the road conditions.”

Chief Supt Kerin said a clearer pattern of crime emerged on statistics covering a two or three-month period rather than from one month due to fluctuations.

He said a lot of recidivist Limerick criminals were in prison during January and this may also be a factor.

Chief Supt Kerin: “Our biggest concern with crime in Co Limerick had been the number of burglaries.

“There had been a significant increase in this kind of crime in the county last year and we are dealing with that.

“This is due to criminals who are more mobile and travelling from the city who are more organised.

“There is a high number amount of daytime break-ins where houses are unoccupied with people out at work. And we are concentrating more resources on county burglaries, which remains one of our priorities.”

He further disclosed that four new Garda inspectors have been appointed to the Limerick division and they will take up duty on February 23 to replace inspectors who retired in 2009. And 10 new sergeants, he said, are due to be promoted in the coming week to replace sergeants who left on retirement in recent months.