Summer of ‘smash and grab’ burglaries in Tipperary

Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan said there was a series of ‘smash and grab’ burglaries in the Nenagh and Tipperary Town area this year.

He said at a recent sitting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee that between March and July, a gang of thieves travelled around the west and midlands of the country, and ‘raided’ shops and filling stations.

Chief Supt O’Sullivan said the thieves were most interested in cigarettes but also money and alcohol.

“Unfortunately, earlier this year and during the summer in the west and midlands there was a spate of robberies during the nighttime.

Nenagh and Tipperary were hit by that spate of robberies.

“I call it smash a grab robbery on commercial premises like shops and filling stations. In the early morning a car would pull up and force the doors open and carry out a burglary. This resulted in an increase in the amount of non-residential burglaries in the division.

“It wasn't unique to Tipperary. It was also in Galway it was Mayo, Longford, Roscommon. It was a particular gang, but thankfully, that has stopped in recent months, said Chief Supt O’Sullivan.

PROPERTY CRIME

Property crime was up 16% across the division in the year to date. That comes to 1,434 incidents to 1,669. Detections increased 17% from 611 to 716.

Chief Supt O’Sullivan said there is ‘significant garda activity’ in the area and that is reflected in the detection rate.

Property crime includes burglary, robbery and various theft offences.

Chief Supt O’Sullivan said theft offences can be from shops, drive-offs or diesel stolen from farms.

He said that there has been a significant increase in thefts from shops and drive-offs.

Nenagh saw an increase of 24% from 298 incidents to 370. Thurles saw a decrease of eight percent from 325 incidents to 299.

Clonmel was up 19% from 461 incidents to 550.

Property crime in Cahir went up 47% from 159 to 234 incidents.

And Tipperary Town was up 13% from 191 to 216.

NON-AGGRAVATED BURGLARY

In the year to date, non-aggravated burglary went up 5% across the division from 237 incidents 250. Residential burglary was up five percent, and non-residential burglary 13%. Nenagh saw an increase of 14% from 43-49%.

Property crime in Thurles decreased 24% from 58 incidents to 44.

Clonmel also saw a decrease of 19% from 69 incidents to 56. Cahir increased 129%.

But this only resulted in 27 additional incidents, from 21 to 48.

And Tipperary Town was up 15% from 46 incidents to 53.

DO PEOPLE STILL REPORT?

Chairman Councillor Noel Coonan raised concerns that people may be too ‘frustrated’ to report crimes in rural areas.

He said he thought some people would be less likely to report crime on their property.

“I’d meet people and they would, what's the point?” Said Cllr Coonan.

Chief Supt O’Sullivan said that there has been an increase in reports of crime.

But even so, there is always a point in reporting.

He said if those crimes are not reported criminals may come back because they consider it safe.

“Some guard somewhere may have stopped a car with someone’s property in it but if the crime was not reported we can’t return that property to the person,” said Chief Supt O’Sullivan.