There was a 6% drop in the number of burglaries in Galway over the year ending in March 2023.
CSO crime statistics analyised by PhoneWatch found that while Galway and some other areas saw a decline in the number of break-ins, other counties had a massive increase in burglaries.
Particularly along the west coast there was a 20% spike in burglaries in the Mayo Garda Division, Sligo/Leitrim saw a 17% increase, and Clare had a 10% rise in break-ins.
Nationwide, the number of burglaries recorded in the year to March 2023 was 9,289, which has remained unchanged compared to the previous 12 months.
While there have been positive reductions in some counties, with Roscommon, Longford, Laois and Offaly all decreasing the number of burglaries by 15%.
The Dublin region, which accounts for over 4 in 10 (42%) of all burglaries experienced a slight 2% increase in the 12 months to March 2023.
Phonewatch research also found that 56% of people are more conscious of the risk of burglaries now, compared to a year ago.
Commenting on these findings, Eoin Dunne, PhoneWatch Managing Director, outlined that, “It is reassuring to see that Irish homeowners are maintaining a high level of vigilance when it comes to home security and the risks associated with an invasive home intrusion.”
“Half of all Irish homes have an alarm system of some type, and a large proportion of these are monitored systems, which we know are much more likely to help protect against the threat of burglary.”
“Comparisons between Ireland, where 49% of households have an alarm system and figures from England and Wales, where 29% of households have an alarm are very interesting.”
