Burglaries in Galway City up by one quarter since 2004

There has been a 27% increase in reported burglaries in Galway City and County since 2004, according to CSO figures.

Figures show that there were a total of 983 burglaries and related offences in 2012. This is an increase on the reported 722 burglaries reported in 2004. However, this is significantly lower than the 1,239 reported burglaries that took place in 2005, which saw the highest number of burglaries since 2004.

Despite these figures, Galway Garda Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Pat Flanagan has said that the number of burglaries in the first half of this month is “rapidly decreasing”; adding that the Summer time usually sees a certain reduction in crime figures.

“There’s a greater awareness by the members of the community in the city and county and there’s a new awakening towards crime prevention,” Sgt Flanagan said.

A survey carried out by AA found that burglaries have increased in every county in Connacht over the past eight years, but particularly in Mayo which has suffered a 52% increase in burglaries.

The national AA survey found that in over 31% of incidents, intruders gained access to a house through a locked door. The AA advises that all exterior doors are fitted with deadbolt locks which are pick-resistant and to be sure that these doors are made with solid wood or metal, a minimum of one inch thick.

The majority of cases saw burglars gain access through a closed window, so the AA advises that windows be fitted with locks. However, “having all these additional security measures would be a complete waste if you left your house keys were a burglar can easily find them. Don’t leave your keys in obvious places like under a plant pot, on the door frame or beneath a mat,” said Conor Faughnan, Director of Consumer Affairs at the AA.

For more on this story, see the current edition of the Galway City Tribune