Following the publication today (Friday) of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) third Quarterly Household Survey, householders are being urged to remain on their guard in the run up to the Christmas period. In the 12 month period up to the end of September 2015, 28,407 burglary and related offences were recorded nationwide (CSO 2015). Of these burglaries 386 were recorded in the Clare Garda Division, an increase of 42 in the previous 12 month period (CSO 2015). Commenting on the number of burglaries, PhoneWatch managing director, Eoin Dunne said, “The annual statistics serve as an important reminder to us all about the importance of protecting our homes. The steady continuance in burglary and related offences is truly alarming and indicates that the level of burglary has not decreased as the economy improves. We are urging all householders to remain vigilant, especially in the run up to Christmas, which is peak season for opportunist burglars.” According to data released by PhoneWatch’s Alarm Receiving Centre, burglars …
Read More »New campaign to combat burglary
Crimestoppers, together with the Garda Síochána and PhoneWatch, has launched a new campaign to combat the problem of burglary. The campaign is calling on members of the public to be vigilant for suspicious activity and to make themselves aware of the straightforward measures they can take to minimize the risk of burglary. The most recent figures from the Central Statistics Office say that from mid-2014 to mid-2015 there were 28,830 burglaries reported in Ireland. This was an increase of 2,241 (8.4%) from the 26,589 burglaries reported from mid-2013 to mid-2014. Crimestoppers is advising householders that there are a number of measures that they can follow to keep their home safe and protect themselves against burglars: * Secure all windows and doors. * Light up you home and use timer switches when out. * Sign up to your local Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch schemes. * Consider installing a monitored alarm and installing outside lights. Ensure the alarm comes with an …
Read More »Nationwide appeal on livestock theft
In recent weeks, there have been several incidents of livestock theft, leading to a renewed nationwide appeal from Crimestoppers, the Irish Farmers Association and an Garda Síochána to combat the problem. Total livestock theft levels in Ireland were 319 in 2013 and 159 in 2014. Launched in February, the campaign is calling on members of the public and in particular those in the farming community with information on the theft of cattle and sheep to come forward with information. Information can be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers confidential telephone service by calling 1800 25 00 25. Alternatively, information can be provided to your local Garda station. Theft of both cattle and sheep is an issue that affects all regions of Ireland, causing significant problems for the farmers who fall victim to the criminals. In one incident during 2014, one farmer had 17 of his 18 calves stolen by thieves, causing significant financial loss. Tim Dalton, chairman, Crimestoppers said, “Crimestoppers provides …
Read More »Crimestoppers making inroads
A large number of criminal activities including incidents of attempted murder, drug dealing and cybercrime were successfully tackled during 2014 with information provided by calls to the confidential Crimestoppers service. In Munster and Connacht, information given to Crimestoppers led to cannabis seizures and arrests. In Leinster, drugs including heroin, cocaine and cannabis herb with a combined street value of over €25,000 were seized and arrests were made. According to a new Crimestoppers report, the service received an average of 138 calls every month during 2014. The most common calls requiring action include drug dealing, sexual offences, cybercrime and road traffic offences. The Crimestoppers’ freephone number 1800 250025 provides a confidential means for every citizen to report crime, without fear of recrimination and is open from 9am until 9pm daily. Calls are answered by trained Gardaí and are dealt with in the strictest of confidence. Callers do not need to leave their name or address. Over 1,600 calls were made to …
Read More »€10,000 reward to stop livestock theft
A new national campaign, with a €10,000 reward for “significant information”, has been launched to combat the problem of livestock theft. Jointly organised by Crimestoppers, the Irish Farmers Association and an Garda Síochána, the campaign is calling on members of the public and in particular those in the farming community with information on the theft of cattle and sheep to come forward with information. In Clare alone, 22 livestock were in 2013 and 13 in 2014. Theft of both cattle and sheep is an issue that affects all regions of Ireland, and in one incident during 2014, one farmer had 17 of his 18 calves stolen by thieves. Tim Dalton, chairman, Crimestoppers said, “Crimestoppers provides a fully confidential means for every citizen to report crime, without fear of recrimination. The call is free and the information is given completely anonymously. The service has consistently proved very valuable in eliciting information to assist investigations in both urban and rural Ireland.” IFA …
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