Burglary rates halve over garda checks

Rolling garda checkpoints targeting motorway exit ramps have contributed to an almost halving of burglary rates across Cork, new figures show.

The incidents of non-aggravated burglary in the Cork City, Cork North, and Cork West garda divisions have reduced by 42% in the first quarter of the year, compared to the same period last year, the Cork County joint policing committee (JPC) was told.

Chief Superintendent Ger Dillane said the reduction from 424 such incidents in the first quarter of last year to 248 such incidents since January, was due in part to the success of sustained garda operations such as Operation Thor and Operation Exit.