Issue Date: 22nd November 2023
• Over 25% reduction in the number of residential burglaries during summer phase 2023 of Operation Thor compared with summer phase 2022
An Garda Síochána commenced the winter phase of its targeted operational activity, ‘Operation Thor’ in October 2023. This ongoing enforcement operation is aimed at preventing burglars from exploiting the reduced hours of daylight.
First established in 2015, this annual operation targets organised criminal gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention and intelligence-led enforcement activity.
In the eight years since Operation Thor was introduced, burglary and related offences have declined overall. A total 4,595 burglaries were recorded during the last winter phase of the operation – a reduction of 4,118 from the same period in 2019.
Between April and August of this year (2023) there were 2,230 reported residential burglaries nationwide. This is a marked reduction on the number which occurred during the 2022 summer phase of Operation Thor (3,067 residential burglaries).
In recent years the level of residential burglary during the winter (October – March) has fallen by 75% since commencement of Operation Thor in 2015, Operation Thor Winter Phase 2022/2023 (2,988 Residential Burglaries) compared to winter 2014/2015 (12,057) recorded residential burglaries.
This is contrary to international research which would suggest that there can be as much as a 20% increase in burglary during the winter months, when daylight hours are at the lowest level. During the winter period, burglary on a premises or property is still most likely to occur between 5pm to 9pm on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
This is the case as the shorter days and longer, darker nights provide more cover and therefore make it easier to break-in unnoticed, and can also make it easier to see if a property is vacant. The winter phase of Operation Thor commenced on the 1st October 2023 and will run until the end of March 2024.
Speaking today, Detective Chief Superintendent Boland, GNDOCB said, "It is deeply traumatic for any person when their home or business premises is burgled. It’s an invasion of privacy and often times, even if nothing of sentimental or monetary value is taken, the place never feels comfortable to a victim again.
"There are vulnerable people and people who are elderly that live in more rural parts of the country and can be fearful of being burgled. Gardaí are very conscious to protect these people and reassure them of their presence in the community.
"This winter we will be out on patrol across the country to help protect communities and deter criminals from burglary.”
Operation Thor focuses on five main areas:
1. Crime Prevention and Protecting Communities: Conducting high-visibility patrols and check-points at specific times of day in known ‘hot-spots’ to reduce the movement of burglars, gathering intelligence on known offenders and regularly communicating with those in the community about crime prevention measures
2. Crime Investigation and Operational Activity: Ensuring that every burglary is thoroughly investigated to the highest possible standard, daily monitoring of crime data to assess any changes in the trend of burglaries, associated crimes and detection rates, and utilising this information to inform burglary prevention strategies
3. Working in Partnership: Continuing to work closely with all partner agencies in both local and national government as well as those in the community by way of providing crime prevention advice and a reassuring presence in the locality
4. Education and Awareness: Interacting with young people and encouraging them to divert away from an involvement in crime/burglary. An Garda Síochána will continue to promote local community policing strategies via social media, and raise awareness of how to enhance the security of your home and private property i.e. An Garda Síochána’s ‘Lock Up/Light Up’ campaign
5. Victim Support: Keeping the victim at the centre of the overall operational response and providing professional support and advice as well as regular case updates to every victim.
There are a number of steps that can help protect your home whether you are at home or going out:
• Turn on some lights (LED bulbs are more energy efficient than traditional bulbs)
• Use timer switches/motion detectors
• Lock all doors and windows
• Use a house alarm
• Store keys away from windows
• Don’t keep large amounts of cash or jewellery in the house.
An Garda Síochána has developed a Property App. This free mobile app is available to the public to index and record their personal property i.e. jewellery, electronic equipment, bicycles, laptops, cameras, farm machinery etc. In the circumstance that the person then has their property stolen, they can use the in-app reporting tool to easily report the theft of any of the item(s) they have uploaded securely, to Gardaí.
An Garda Síochána App - Garda
https://www.garda.ie/en/angardasiochanaapp/
An Garda Síochána promotes the practice of ‘property marking.’ Property Marking engagement days are held by local community policing units and regularly highlighted on Garda social media platforms.
An Garda Síochána - Property Marking
https://www.garda.ie/!C4WFWO
An Garda Síochána ‘Lock Up Light Up’ campaign is An Garda Síochána's anti-burglary awareness campaign which encourages homeowners to protect their homes over the winter months, when burglaries traditionally tend to rise.
'Lock Up Light Up' campaign - Garda
