Figures have been revealed at the recent Joint Policing Committee Meeting.
Burglaries across Laois have more than doubled now that society has reopened.
The latest meeting of the Laois Joint Policing Committee has heard as people return to work, so too have criminals.
Garda Chief Superintendent John Scanlan offered an update on the latest crime stats for the county at the recent JPC meeting.
He revealed that since the first quarter of 2021 and the same period this year...
- burglary is up from 26 to 61
- theft is up from 31 to 55
- aggravated burglary is up from zero to three
- theft from a vehicle is up from 30 to 37
- theft from the person is up from zero to six.
Chief Superintendent Scanlan stressed that figures had fallen extremely low during the pandemic when homes were occupied more and so the big jump in figures should not be taken out of context.
He said the figures, as dramatic as they seem, are substantially better than they were when you look at the ten-year trend.
In terms of rural and urban trends, the chief super said burglaries in urban areas tend to be committed by locals; while rural burglaries tend to be the work of people in cars driving through the area.
Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley said there had been an increase in the number of properties broken into in Portlaoise, particularly during the day.
"One elderly man unfortunately moved out of his home after the property was broken into as he was absolutely terrified, and he has since moved into a nursing home. There was also a further break-in the area."
Independent rep James Kelly said that criminals are using drones to commit crimes.
"These drones are being used against the farming sector due to rising fuel prices, as criminals are targeting fuel."
"I have no evidence of drones being used in any burglaries in Laois," said Chief Supt Scanlan. "I have evidence of drones being used to get drugs into prison. A lot of burglaries are indiscriminate enough, they chance their arm and knock on the door to see if anyone is home, and if they don't get an answer in goes the door."
Garda Chief Superintendent John Scanlan also revealed that between the first quarter of 2021 and the same period this year, theft crimes in the county have risen by 93%, from 165 to 318.
Responding to a question from Councillor Aisling Moran regarding more CCTV in the county, Chief Scanlan said, "CCTV on every corner is just not going to happen. There are huge issues around GDPR. I'm aware that in mainland Europe there are no public cameras. It's about the balancing of the rights of individuals against the need by society to protect itself from crime."
He followed this by saying Laois "has more community-based CCTV than any other county in the State".
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