Security warning as burglaries surge

DUBLINERS are being urged to be more security conscious following new worrying statistics that show a surge in burglaries throughout the capital.

There were over 12,800 burglaries across the Dublin Metropolitan Region’s six Garda divisions according to the figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) – a massive increase of 18 per cent.

Gardaí say they are aware of the upward trend and measures have recently been introduced to try and tackle the problem.

“After a sustained period of reductions in burglary rates, the increase in this crime is a concern for An Garda Síochána,

? said Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan.

“We have been aware of this rise and several months ago put in place specialist anti-burglary units in Dublin to target prolific burglars and work with communities with high amounts of this crime.

?

Commissioner O’Sullivan said a new national intelligence-led

anti-burglary operation would build on Operation Fiacla, which has had a number of successes against travelling crime gangs.

Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald, said an urgent review of the criminal justice system’s response to the burglary prob- lem had been undertaken earlier this year.

“I recently published the heads of the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill which targets repeat burglary offenders through new measures relating to bail and provisions concerning the imposition of consecutive sentencing for repeat burglary offending,

? she said.

“I have also made specific funding of

?¬700,000 available for new specialised vehicles to support an ehanced operational response by gardaí to current and emerging crime threats, including burglary offenes being committed by highly-mobile gangs.

?

A recent survey commissioned by PhoneWatch found that while 85 per cent of homeowners are concerned about being burgled, almost half of them don’t have an alarm.

“The gardaí are doing all they can to protect homeowners and prosecute thieves,

? said Eoin Dunne, chief executive of PhoneWatch.

“The rise in burglaries, as shown in the CSO report, really demonstrates how homeowners need to be more vigilant and can take more responsibility for the protection of their homes.

?

However, security expert Jim Toal, of Fairco Windows and Doors, says there’s a new, more effective, breed of burglar, undeterred by alarms or cameras, who has taken over from the traditional opportunist.

“The traditional opportunist burglar spends between 90 seconds and four minutes trying to gain entry into a home,

? he explained.

“If he doesn’t he will move on.

“However, the increase in burglary figures in Dublin matches the sophistication we are seeing on the ground.

“Recently we have encountered a different type of burglar who monitors his victims’ homes very carefully.

“The average alarm doesn’t deter him and he has all the tools of the trade to break and enter into anintruder even attempts to gain access to their home through its recently launched guaranteed burglar-proof windows and doors.”

Toal’s company is offering to give householders

?¬3,000 if an intruder even attempts to gain access to their home through its recently launched guaranteed burglar-proof windows and doors.