Burglars net €700m of goods in last decade

ABOUT €700 million worth of goods have been stolen from houses over the past decade, with burglary rates increasing by 8.25% over the past year, according to the latest annual Eircom Phonewatch burglary report.

According to the report, since 2000, hundreds of millions of euro in cash, electrical equipment, appliances and furniture have been illegally taken from houses.

The figures, which are based on the telephone firm’s alarm system and supported by CSO figures, have confirmed 26,545 burglaries took place between June 2009 and June 2010. This is the equivalent of 73 robberies every day, up 8.25% on the previous year.

However, of even more concern is the fact that the incidents are no longer occurring at night or when houses are empty, with 31% taking place between midday and 4pm and 85% of houses being hit while the owner is at home.

“Over the 10 years we have reported on burglary in Ireland, one insight remains constant – burglary regardless of boom or bust is a crime phenomenon which is simply not going away,” said Eircom Phonewatch chief executive Eoin Dunne.

“The figures consistently demonstrate that the vast majority of burglaries take place while the home is occupied, increasing the risk of confrontation and personal danger,” he added.

Dublin continues to be the robbery capital, with the number of burglaries in the area rising 30% over the past 12 months and accounting for 39% of all cases.

The number of incidents either side of the Liffey is almost evenly divided, with the southside accounting for 53% of burglaries and the most-targeted areas including Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey and Killiney. When the statistics for commuter belt counties such as Kildare (7% of all cases), Meath (5.3%), Wicklow (5.08%) and Louth (3.62%) are taken into account, 60% of burglaries took place in the region.

The statistics show Cork is the most targeted area in Munster and the fourth most targeted overall.

However, for the first time in five years, Limerick has fallen outside the five burglary hotspots, with the area accounting for 4.5% of incidents over the past year.

Semi-detached homes have been named as the most likely type of dwelling to be targeted (32.5%).

Of this category, people who own three-bed houses (45.5%) are believed to be at the most obvious risk for the fourth year in a row.

From June 2009 to last June, 16.5% of reported took place on a Friday, while the most likely type of entrance continues to be rear doors or rear windows.

* Eircom Phonewatch helpline: 1850 500900