Midlands Garda Chief Superintendent Refutes Theft Commentary

Tuesday, 14 March 2023 08:13

The latest Joint Policing Committee meeting in Laois has found thefts from a shop has jumped from 84 this time last year to 139 this year.

A significant rise in one crime category spoils what is otherwise a mainly positive theft and burglarly review in Laois.

The latest Joint Policing Committee meeting has found thefts from a shop has jumped from 84 this time last year, to 139 in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Garda Chief Superintendent John Scanlon hit back at commentary surrounding the increase in thefts from shops, which suggests the thieves are stealing in order to feed themselves.

He says the majority of the items taken are alcohol, and also referred to a notable jump in the number of organised groups targetting rural shops.

Revealing other statistics, Chief Superintendent Scanlon says there were no cases of aggravated burglary, down from one in the fourth quarter of last year.

General burgalry has also fallen substantially, from 59 to 29.

Thefts from a vehicle is up to 20, that's an increase of two from last year's figures, while thefts from a person have fallen from five to one.

The unauthorised taking of a bicycle is up from four to eight, but the taking of a vehicle is down 25 percent, from 16 to 12.