Crime levels in Tipperary continue to increase back up to pre-Covid pandemic levels

The rise in burglary, robberies, theft and assault crimes has continued across the county since September with latest crime figures showing a 35% increase in property offences while crimes against the person have soared by 20% in the first 11 months of the year. 

The last set of crime statistics produced for the Tipperary Garda Division in October showed that the number of burglaries, robberies and thefts rose by 33% between January 1 and October 3. 

The latest figures unveiled by Chief Supt Colm O’Sullivan to public representatives at  the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee in Thurles last Friday show this trend has continued with these property crimes in the county rising by 35% between January and November 30  from 1,079 to 1,457.

 The number of non-aggravated burglaries reported rose by 11% to 236 with non-residential burglaries increasing by 37% so far this year compared to the same period in 2021.  

Likewise, the number of crimes against the person reported to gardaí ranging from murder and assault to harassment, child abandonment, neglect and abuse,  have also continued on an upward trajectory since the end of September when a 14% increase countywide was recorded since the start of the year. 

Chief Supt O’Sullivan said  the increase in crimes against the person reported across the division so far this year has now climbed to 20%.

 CRIMES REPORTED 

This translates to 624 such crimes reported between January 1 and November 30 compared to 522 over the same period last year. 

The figures also show a worrying 43% rise in assault causing harm offences reported across the county so far this year with 166 reported compared to 116 in 2021.  He credited the general rise in this broad range of crimes to the fact the county has emerged from the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic over the past year. 

“Last year the country was in a difficult period of lockdowns due to Covid,” he explained. While there is an increase (in crime) the figures are going back to the comparative levels they were at in 2018 and 2019.  

“There was a significant reduction during the Covid pandemic and we are now going back to pre-Covid levels.”

A break-down of the  crime figures by Garda District  highlights some wide variations.  Tipperary Town Garda District experienced a massive 63% rise in robberies, burglaries and thefts up to November 30 with 194 of these crimes reported compared to 119 over the same period last year. 

 The number of non-aggravated burglaries in this district rose by 80% alone. 

In contrast, the number of crimes against the person reported in Tipperary Town District fell by 9% in the first 11 months of this year with 50 reported compared to 55 over the same period in 2021. 

And the number of assaults reported in the district fell even more by 22% with 39 reported compared to 50 in 2021. 

Clonmel Garda District recorded a 29% rise  with 480 robberies, burglaries and thefts up to November 30 compared to the same period last year. 

However, the number of non-aggravated burglaries actually fell by 12% in the Clonmel District from 77 to 68 during this period.

 Crimes against the person incidents rose by 7% to 212 between January and November 30 but the number of assaults reported in the district increased by just 1% to 145 compared to 144 over the same period in 2021.  

The Cahir Garda District, meanwhile,  experienced a much smaller 8% increase in robberies, burglaries and thefts where 160 of these crimes were reported compared to 148 in the first 11 months of 2021. 

However, the Cahir District, which includes Cashel, has experienced a substantial 58% rise in crimes against the person this year with 90 such offences recorded compared to 57 in the first 11 months last year. 

A further breakdown of these figures shows that the number of assaults reported  in Cahir District soared by 67% so far this year with 70 of these crimes reported compared to 42 last year.