A new AA survey has revealed of Galway respondants 14 per cent have been the victims of burglaries in the last six, or more, years, and that 35.4 per cent said access was gained through a closed window.
In an AA survey of almost 15,500 people nationwide, 28.5 per cent have said that their home was been burgled at some stage. It was also revealed that burglaries have increased in every county in Connacht beween 2004 and 2012 but particularly in County Mayo where there has been a 52 per cent increase.
For Galway, the survey revealed that 0.6 per cent of Galway respondents have been burgled within the last year, 1.1 per cent have been victims of this crime in the last one to two years, 2.4 per cent between the last three to four years, 0.8 per cent between the last four to five years, and 14 per cent in the last six or more years. Of the Galway respondents to the survey 81.2 per cent said that they have never been the victim of a burglary.
When asked about how the burglary was committed 35.4 per cent of Galway respondents said that access was gained through a closed window, while 25 per cent said that access was gained through a locked door. Other figures show that 13.4 per cent of Galway respondents said that access was gained through an open window, 10.5 per cent said it was gained through an open door, 8.4 per cent said they didn’t know, and 7.4 per cent stated other.
Nationally Dublin was the worst for burglaries overall, with over 38 per cent saying they have been the victim of this crime at some stage. Outside of Dublin, Louth, Laois, Offaly, and Kildare have the biggest problems.
Nationally, when 4,308 respondents were asked how the burglary was committed 361 (8.4 per cent ) said it was through an open window, 248 (5.6 per cent ).
“Burglaries don’t just mean the loss of some of your belongings but they also mean an infringement on your personal life and your security,” says the director of consumer affairs with the AA Conor Faughnan. He added: “Knowing that your most important contents can be replaced may bring some much needed relief. It is vital though, to make sure that you have listed all contents to be insured with your insurer first.
“The AA is warning homeowners to make sure their homes are fully protected. Quite often it’s through an open door or window that a burglar gains access to a victim’s house. In fact, the AA poll discovered that 14 per cent of those who were burgled said that the offender got in this way. It’s a good idea to get yourself into a routine before you leave the house or when you’re going to bed. Make sure you check every door is locked and every window shut.”
