Concerns about burglaries where people were at home raised at Tipperary JPC

Councillor Hughie McGrath has asked the new Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan to present figures on burglaries where the resident was home.

Cllr McGrath raised his question following the Chief Superintendent’s presentation at last week’s sitting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee (JPC).

The Nenagh Councillor said burglary invokes images of people stealing from empty houses. However, he said there had been some incidents in the Nenagh district recently where people were home.

“It’s worrying that your child could be in the kitchen, and someone comes in and confronts them,” said Cllr McGrath.

Chief Supt O’Sullivan said the legislation does not differentiate between home invasions while the family is home or away.

But he said he would see if he could get a further breakdown of the statistics.

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CONCERNING FIGURES

The Chief Superintendent’s presentation showed property crime was up 35% across the county.

Property crime includes theft, burglary and robbery. Non-aggravated burglary, residential and non-residential, was up 11% in Tipperary.

Residential burglary was up 3%, while non-residential burglary was up 37%

Detections were up 9% on property crime but down 9% on non-aggravated burglary.

Tipperary Town had the highest increase, up 63% in property crime and 80% in Non-aggravated burglary.

Nenagh was up 36% for property crime but down 25% on non-aggravated burglary.

Thurles saw an increase of 46% increase in property crime and 67% in non-aggravated burglary.

Cllr Ger Darcy said theft and burglary can be “very, very hard on people and businesses.”

Cllr AnneMarie Ryan said Tipperary Town was struggling and more foot patrols were needed.

She said she had had reports of people contacting the garda station only to be told there was no car available which she said was not good enough.

“We need gardai walking the beat on the street,” said Cllr Ryan.

BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE

Chief Supt O’Sullivan said winter is a prime time for burglaries.

In Tipperary, catalytic converters are a trend in burglary, he said.

Chief Supt O’Sullivan said while some crime is unavoidable, some is opportunistic, which the public can help prevent.

Cars left unlocked, spare keys left in glove compartments and phones left on tables in bars are all opportunities for thieves.

He said you wouldn’t leave €1,000 on a table, so you shouldn’t leave an €800 phone unattended.

“We can do so much to prevent crime by being more conscious of what we do. That’s the message I want to get out to the public, said Chief Supt O’Sullivan.