The 2011 Eircom PhoneWatch Burglary Report, released this week, has revealed that burglaries in Galway have reduced by 34 per cent compared to last year.
The report which tracked burglaries between July 2010 and June 2011 also revealed that Galway accounts for three per cent of burglaries nationwide and that the most popular months for burglaries were October and August.
Overall, burglaries in Ireland have increased by 4.12 per cent nationwide. Unsurprisingly Dublin continues to top Ireland’s burglary table, with burglaries increasing 13 per cent this year and accounting for 42 per cent of burglaries nationwide. When this figure is combined with the surrounding commuter belt (Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and Louth ) it climbs to 63 per cent of all burglaries nationwide.
Worryingly, the 2011 report revealed that November is the most likely month of the year for burglaries to occur, which indicates that home owners should remain security aware as we move into the winter months. The 2011 report also reinforces previous findings as once again it determined that burglars no longer strike solely under the cover of darkness. For the fifth year in a row, the most likely time of day to be burgled is between 12pm and 4pm (23 per cent ).
The 2011 eircom PhoneWatch Burglary Report also reveals that an average value of €1,868 was taken from each home burgled. This equates to approximately €48 million worth of goods stolen from residential households in Ireland in the 12 months between July 2010 and June 2011, a 66 per cent decrease on last year.
Speaking at the launch of the 2011 Burglary Report, Eoin Dunne General Manager of Eircom PhoneWatch commented: “Over the 11 years that we have reported on burglary in Ireland, one insight remains constant – burglary regardless of boom or bust is a crime phenomenon which is simply not going away. The figures consistently demonstrate that the vast majority of burglaries take place while the home is occupied, thus increasing the risk of confrontation and personal danger, so it is of particular importance that people become more security aware while they are in the home.”
“This year’s findings also indicate that burglars are more opportunistic than ever, gaining entry through front and rear doors and taking lower value items. As November has been found to be the busiest time for burglars home owners should be aware of the need to keep their home safe and secure, whether they are at home or not.”
Other key findings from the Eircom PhoneWatch Burglary Report include: For nine of the past 11 years semi-detached homes represent the most targeted type of dwelling (21 per cent ); Thursday, which accounts for 16.5 per cent of all burglaries in 2011 is the most targeted day of week; For the fifth year in a row, three bedroom homes remain the most targeted (43.73 per cent ), and 74 per cent of homes burgled did not have a monitored alarm in place.
