Increase in oil and metal thefts

THE increasing value of scrap metal and oil has resulted in a jump in the number of non-violent thefts reported throughout the county.

It has emerged that while the number of burglaries have decreased, one home in the county has been broken into every day for the first three months of the year.
Figures released by Clare gardaí this week show that crime in the county is generally lower for the first three months of this year compared to last year’s figures for the same time period.
The statistics, presented at this week’s Joint Policing Committee meeting, show increases in assaults causing harm up 21%, four more than last year, while non-violent thefts are up by 19%.
Chief Superintendent John Kerin told the meeting that the increase in assaults causing harm related to three particular incidents in different parts of the county.
He stated that the increase in non-violent theft, from 94 for the first three months in 2010 to 112 this year, was a result of the growing value of metals, such as copper, lead and home heating oil.
“There have been no robberies of persons so far this year, thankfully. In relation to the theft of scrap metal and home heating oil, unfortunately the value of copper and lead has trebled and there are now gangs at this throughout Ireland. Despite some good detection and charges we have got, the numbers have not decreased,” he said.
The figures showed there have been 90 burglaries in Clare during the first three months of this year, down from 97 last year. Superintendent Kerin commented that the gardaí are “very happy” to see the figures decreasing.
Down 100% is the number of aggravated burglaries, with none this year compared with one for the first three months of last year. There have also been no robberies to persons this year. Robberies to premises is down 67%, while thefts from persons is down 78% and thefts of vehicles is down 30%. Incidences of criminal damage are also down by 1%.
The number of sexual offences is reduced by 19%, with Superintendent Kerin pointing out that of the 17 sexual offences reported in 2011, seven occurred this year, while the others were historic, some dating back to 1964.
Drugs offences have also seen a decrease, with possession of drugs down by 53% and arrests for sale or supply down by 19%.
The meeting was also told that a total of 158 vehicles have been seized by gardaí so far this year, many for being unroadworthy. A total of 499 vehicles were seized by gardaí in 2010.
Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald raised the issue of stolen home heating oil, saying a number of houses in his area have been targeted.
The meeting heard that legislation is needed to force scrap dealers to record details of who has sold to them.
Councillor Joe Arkins added he believed stolen gold was also being sold without identification.
“This gold is being sold and within a few hours it is melted down. There needs to be a time period of three or four weeks before it is melted down so it can be identified,” he said.
Councillor PJ Ryan, who owns a home heating oil company, stated it is “virtually impossible” to prevent thieves from stealing oil from tanks outside homes.
He told how thieves bored a 5in-hole through a tank and emptied the contents into drums, which were then put in a vehicle and driven off.
“These pumps work at a rate of 15 litres a second and the tank is rendered useless as well,” he said.
“You can put all the locks you can but these people come determined to take it and they will. The best protection you can get is an alarm or a light that goes on when approached,” he said.