Home Burglary Facts And Stats
It seems that in Ireland, recorded crime is on the increase with thefts, burglaries and robberies growing quarter by quarter during 2022. Official figures from a series of Central Statistics Office quarterly reports show that crime of all types, and not just house break ins a year, have been continuing on a worrying upward trend.
The house invasion statistics relating to burglary and related offences sum this up perfectly, showing an almost 4% increase in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. What followed for the second and third quarters were even more worrying. Comparing the same periods to 2021, home burglary in Ireland rates increased by over 9% in quarter 2 and over 18% in quarter 3 of 2022.
Although the rates of burglaries had seemingly reduced over the past four years, the fact that they have now started to rise is more worrying.
Burglar & Related Offences Figures:
| Period | Year – 2021 | Year – 2022 | Year – Difference | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | 8,933 | 9,270 | 337 | 3.77% |
| Quarter 2 | 9,008 | 9,828 | 820 | 9.10% |
| Quarter 3 | 8,362 | 9,885 | 1,523 | 18.2% |
| Totals | 26,303 | 28,983 | 2,680 | 10.2% |
Burglary Facts
It’s fair to say that most homeowners are becoming more worried about their houses being broken into as the rates of burglaries continue to increase. As a result, householders are taking more care to make sure they protect themselves especially when away from home for extended periods.
But when do most robberies happen? Home burglary in Ireland tends to occur at those times when properties appear to be empty for extended periods, such as holidays and in the summer and around Christmas. House invasion statistics appear to spike at Christmas, mostly due to the fact that thieves know that people have been out buying expensive gifts for their families or that houses are left empty for longer periods of time as people celebrate the season.
In addition, people living in more rural areas are more often targeted by thieves because their properties are likely to be more remote and unlike a traditional housing estate, homes are not close to each other. Most burglaries occur in these areas because thieves are more likely to break into properties that are more isolated, so that any noise or commotion isn’t heard by neighbours and passers-by.
What Can Homeowners Do To Protect Themselves?
These startling figures do however clearly demonstrate that the rate of home burglary in Ireland is increasing. It also sends a clear message to homeowners who should take the appropriate actions to protect themselves and their property from the risks of burglary.
There are a number of steps a homeowner can take to protect themselves from being included in these house invasion statistics.
Following simple routines of making sure all doors and windows are closed and locked when leaving the house, as well as keeping lights on during the evening, will go some way to limiting the risk of being targeted. Other preventative measures that people can put in place include:
- Install suitable fencing or walls around the perimeter of the house to 1.8m high
- Fit high-quality locks, hinges and latches to gates
- Ensure gates are locked when not in use
- Ensure doors and windows are fitted with tested and approved locks and furniture
- Fit exterior PIR lighting to operate when it picks up movement around the property
- Join a neighbourhood watch group
- Ask neighbours to keep checking your property if you are aware for extended periods.
In addition to these steps to take, there are a huge range of electronic devices that you could consider adding to increase the level of property security. Householders have been adding advanced CCTV camera security systems and monitored alarm systems to their properties.
The number of installed monitored alarms in Ireland has risen sharply in the past year as more and more people turn to professional alarm companies to provide increased security. It’s a fact that if you have a home security system fitted at your property, you’re less likely to experience a break-in at your home. Typical benefits include:
- 24/7 monitoring of the property, whether someone is at home or if it is empty
- Internal sensors in rooms and hallways will pick up any movement setting the alarm off, providing a verified alarm activation.
- Some systems incorporate fire-sensing alarms and cameras to record activity at home to prevent natural disasters from wrecking the property.
There are more benefits to installing home security systems so if you’re considering upgrading then make sure you consider all of your needs and security requirements.
So, if you are worried about the increasing trend in burglaries and thefts and you don’t want to become one of the growing house invasion statistics, get in contact with us to see how we can help put your mind at rest.
