Vehicle thefts are on the rise, compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to new figures from An Garda Síochána.
The provisional crime figures for 2022 showed a rise in some major crimes throughout 2022 - but An Garda Síochána cautioned that comparisons between 2022 and 2021 “should continue to be considered in the context of Covid-19”.
Ireland was under level five Covid-19 restrictions until May of 2021, with travel limited and many businesses remaining closed, so Gardaí said a “longer trend comparison” with pre-pandemic 2019 figures was advised given the “significant effect on crime” as a result of public health measures.
Vehicle thefts
According to Garda figures, there was a significant increase in the theft/unauthorised taking (UT ) of vehicles in 2022. Last year saw a 52 per cent rise in vehicle thefts when compared to 2021, and a 17 per cent increase on 2019 figures.
Gardaí said a significant portion of this increase is related to thefts of second-hand imported vehicles and the theft of electric scooters.
Meanwhile, the number of vehicle break-ins last year was down 36 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, but up 15 per cent on 2021.
Road deaths
During 2022 there were in excess of 50,000 road traffic collisions reported to An Garda Síochána.
There was a 20 per cent increase in fatal road traffic collisions last year compared to 2021, and a 13 per cent rise on pre-pandemic 2019, according to the Garda figures.
Some 37 people have been killed on Irish roads so far in 2023 (up to March 9 ). That is five more than at this stage last year, and seven more that at this point in 2021. Twenty of these were drivers at the time of the collision, and three others were on motorcycles or e-scooters.
Garda says more than 7,750 drivers were arrested during 2022 for driving while intoxicated – four per cent more than throughout 2021 and just a one per cent drop on 2019.
