Crime Prevention

On this month’s Crimecall Sergeant Graham Kavanagh Crime Prevention Officer discussed the winter burglary advice and the European Focus Day on Burglary Prevention on the 21 October 2020. He advised that we can enact simple measures to help protect our homes, including:

- Turning on some lights while inside or out of the home
- Using timer switches
- Locking all doors and windows
- Using an alarm
- Keeping keys stored away from windows
- Not keeping large amounts of cash or jewellery in the home

Lock Up Light Up
 
It is accepted that incidences of burglaries, as well as other associated criminal activity, can rise as much as 20% during the winter months when daylight hours are significantly reduced.

As many as 42% of all burglaries during winter months take place during the hours of 4pm and 9pm, according to figures provided by An Garda Síochána. The most common days for burglary to occur are Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The rate of residential burglary has decreased sharply in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the falling rate observed most acutely in March and April of this year, when national lockdowns were in full effect. During this time, there were 43% fewer burglaries compared with the same period in 2019.

This type of crime has a particularly devastating effect on its victims and we in An Garda Síochána are determined to impact on the activities of criminals involved in the commission of this crime.
 
Halloween Safety Advice:

 - Do not buy, use or ignite fireworks
- Do not provide any materials for bonfires 
- Report sightings of pallets or tires being hoarded to your local authority
- Keep away from unsupervised bonfires 
- Explain dangers of fireworks and bonfires to children and teenagers
- Keep pets indoors on Halloween night
- There are penalties for selling, supplying and throwing fireworks.