Almost 1,000 burglary suspects arrested in garda winter operation as residential burglaries down

• 11h ago

New figures show that residential burglaries during a six-month period over the winter period have decreased significantly year-on-year by 21pc.

The senior officer in charge of the Garda’s response to serious and organised crime says that this is largely due Operation Thor.

The latest winter phase of this anti-burglary initiative, which ran from last October until March, saw over 133,531 patrols across the country.

Gardaí said that 22,655 checkpoints were also carried out and 1,279 searches conducted.

In total 957 people were arrested as part of the operation with 1,440 charges brought before the courts.

In the most recent winter phase, there were 2,988 burglaries recorded around Ireland, a decrease of 21pc compared to the 3,804 offences the previous winter.

At this time of year residential break-ins usually trend upwards by as much as 20pc based on international evidence.

However, gardaí say that there has been a slight but significant decrease- of 2.8pc- of burglaries in the winter compared to the previous summer.

This is the first time a seasonal decrease has been recorded since Operation Thor was launched nearly eight years ago.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, who is in charge of the Organised and Serious Crime section, said they are continuing to tackle burglars with a focus on those who use the motorway network for their criminal enterprise.

“For the first time provisional crime statistics are indicating that there were less residential burglaries during the winter Phase of Operation Thor 2022/ 2023 than in the immediately preceding summer phase. This is a very welcome development.

“Compared to when Operation Thor commenced in 2015, when over 12,000 burglaries were recorded, a 75% reduction in burglaries is a major development in keeping people safe and ensuring that citizens feel safe in their own homes,” Mr Kelly said.

“An Garda Síochána remains committed to working with individuals and communities both rural and urban to targeting those involved in burglary and related crime types, particularly those who may attempt to use the motorway network to benefit their criminal activities,” the senior garda added.

When Operation Thor was first launched in 2015 there were over 12,000 residential burglaries reported during that winter phase.

This has dropped by 75pc with just 2,988 break-ins at private homes throughout the last winter phase.