Burglaries in County Galway in the first six months of 2010 are up 21 per cent on the same period in 2009 according to new figures discussed at the County Galway Joint Policing Committee (JPC ) meeting held in the Council Chambers on Monday.
The figures were contained in a crime report submitted to the County Galway Joint Policing committee (JPC ) by Chief Superintendent Donal O Cualain.
More than 170 burglaries have taken place in homes and businesses outside of the city since last January. Thefts from vehicles have fallen by more than 40 per cent, while theft from persons is down by 75 per cent, which is a considerable reduction on the first six months of 2009.
Overall the number of incidents reported to Gardai was down 16 per cent on the first six months of 2009. The influence of the national covert strategy ‘Operation Anvil’ was praised for helping to bring down the figures.
Chief Supt O Cualain said that static and rolling checkpoints had proven to be a major success on the N63 in monitoring movement, deterring criminals and reassuring people. Similar checkpoints were being deployed on the other main routes into the city the committee were told. Chief Supt O Cualain said burglary was up significantly in the first four months of the year but the trend had fallen steadily since as a result of operations like this.
Serious assault cases were down an encouraging 30 per cent while public order cases were down marginally at three per cent. Chief Supt O Cualain stated that active measures by Galway gardai were proving to be a deterrent.
While it was agreed that every death on the roads is regrettable there were only two fatalities on Galway roads in the first six months of 2010 compared to 20 deaths during 2008.
The 25th anniversary of Community Alert was noted and the 94 branches of the organisation in Galway were commended for their efforts in establishing the vitally important groups, which have become an integral part of the fabric of rural Ireland.
