Thefts of smartphones surge nearly 40%

High-value smartphones remain the key target for criminals as figures show the number of thefts from individuals has risen 39%.

While almost all categories of recorded crime report a significant drop in the last year, there has been a spike in thefts from individuals.

In addition, there has been a small rise in the number of robberies from the person, which involves violence or threats.

CSO figures show thefts from individuals rose by 39% in the year ending last March, against the same period the previous year.

There were 5,412 rep-orted cases of theft from individuals, compared to 3,889 the previous year.

Because of a reduction in theft from cars, the total number of theft cases has remained unchanged, at about 76,000 crimes.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter said he was concerned at the rise in theft from individuals which he said included mobile phone theft. He said this was being tackled by gardaí.

Last April, gardaí said around 8,000 smartphones, valued at around €3m, were reported stolen in the greater Dublin area between April and Dec 2012. A Garda operation, Aughrim, resulted in the arrest of 800 people, almost 60% of whom were foreigners.

Senior officers said Eastern European gangs were targeting pubs and clubs in blitzes, while Irish criminals, often youths on bicycles, targeted commuters using phones.

“The gardaí alone cannot prevent mobile phone theft. I would urge the public to take great care with regard to how they use and where they keep their phones,” said Mr Shatter.

More than 5,000 people have been arrested and nearly 3,000 charged under Operation Fiacla, which began in Feb 2012.