One in every 222 people a victim of burglary

One in every 222 people in Ireland was the victim of a burglary during the first nine months of 2012 as the number of household break-ins increased by over 5%.

Official crime figures show 20,655 burglaries were recorded between January and September last year — an increase of more than 1,000 on the corresponding period in 2011.

Amid growing concerns about the closure of around 100 mostly rural Garda stations this month, and its impact on policing and crime detection, it equates to 75 burglaries being reported on a daily basis nationwide.

According to Garda statistics, there was a 25% detection rate for burglaries in 2010 — the latest year for which information is available. There has been an 8% conviction rate for burglaries committed in 2010.

People living in the greater Dublin area are most likely to be the victim of a burglary, while the border counties and the south-west have the lowest rates of break-ins.

Louth has the highest incidence of burglaries, with one in 142 residents being burgled in the first three-quarters of 2012.

Other counties with above-average rates include Wicklow, Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Kilkenny, and Carlow.

In contrast, Kerry has the lowest incidence of reported burglaries, with just one break-in for every 571 residents — less than half the national average. Other counties with below-average rates include Cork, Clare, Cavan, and Monaghan

Despite a media focus on a recent series of break-ins on the homes of elderly people in Donegal, the county has the second lowest incidence of burglary in the Republic, with just one reported crime per 478 population. Burglaries in Donegal have fallen 8% in 2012.

Independent TD Thomas Pringle yesterday blamed Taoiseach Enda Kenny for the spate of burglaries on pensioners in Donegal.

Mr Pringle said the lack of Garda presence in rural areas, combined with station closures, meant many people were facing great fear. “We are now seeing the brutal consequences of this Government’s attack on rural Ireland,” he said.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter insisted gardaí have sufficient resources. He branded the events in Donegal as “atrocious” but stressed that, in general terms, crime was falling.

The number of burglaries soared by more than 30% in four counties. There was a 38% increase in Mayo, followed by Roscommon, Longford, and Louth with a 31% rise in burglaries.

Many other counties in Leinster recorded a 10% or greatrt growth in the number of burglaries last year — over double the national average — including Kilkenny, Carlow, Meath, Wexford, and Wicklow.

Overall, 16 counties recorded an increase in burglaries, while 10 showed a drop.

The biggest fall was in Cavan/Monaghan, where there was a 28% decrease, followed by Limerick (down 14%) and Tipperary (down 11%).

The figures are based on official Garda crime data on aggravated and non-aggravated burglaries, as well as offences related to the possession of an article with the intent to steal.

Pensioners attacked

A gang suspected by gardaí of being behind the latest attacks on pensioners in Donegal pretended to be selling household goods before preying on their victims.

The gang, believed to be from Derry, struck in Buncrana and Muff in Inishowen, terrifying their victims on Tuesday evening.

In the first attack at Mamore Gap near Buncrana, John Gallagher, 65, had his home ransacked before the gang locked him in a shed.

The five-man gang then drove to Ture near Muff, where they beat up an 80-year-old woman before leaving the scene in a blue or grey Proton car.

Inspector David Murphy said both victims received calls to their homes in the afternoon prior to the attacks by people claiming to be selling household goods. “We believe there could be a link, as both people received calls from people claiming to be selling household goods,” he said.

“One of these was a woman with short brown hair and they were in a car with the same description as we believe was involved in both crimes.

“We would ask the public who may also have received a call from these people to contact us,” he said. The latest raids on vulnerable pensioners brings to more than 15 the number of raids across Donegal in two weeks.

There was widespread condemnation throughout the county at the latest incidents.

Mayor of Donegal Frank McBrearty said Garda management is simply not doing enough to prevent the attacks.

Stephen Maguire