23 September 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
13,296 burglaries in Cork over past decade
13,296 burglaries have occurred in Cork over the past decade, according to new analysis carried out by PhoneWatch. This is equivalent to one in every 14 homes or businesses in the county experiencing a break-in during this time, which PhoneWatch say “demonstrates the importance for all of us to be vigilant in protecting our properties.”
Speaking about the figures, PhoneWatch Managing Director, Eoin Dunne said, “While we’re seeing a welcome reduction in burglaries in recent years, the reality is that burglary still remains all too common in Ireland. By examining the figures over an extended period we can see the true scale and impact of burglary in Ireland. The good news is that our research shows Irish householders are taking more steps in recent years to protect their homes, and this is having a positive effect.”
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In total, 245,260 burglaries occurred in Ireland in the 10 years between January 2009 and December 2018. While there were significant variations year-on-year, 2018 saw the lowest number of burglaries for the decade (16,969).
The analysis shows that when compared to the nationwide burglary rate of an average of one in every seven homes or premises being burgled Cork is considerably safer. Elsewhere, Dublin accounted for 41% of all burglaries in the country over the past decade, equivalent to 1 in 5 premises in the county, while Kerry showed the lowest burglary levels the equivalent of 1 in 19 properties.
With 1,041 Watercourse Road Garda Station recorded the most burglaries of any of Cork’s Garda stations. Anglesea Street (1,030) and Gurranabraher (781) were the second and third highest respectively. With just 13 each both Durrus and Drinagh received the lowest number of burglary reports for the county.
Seasonality
While the darker months have shown higher levels of burglary for many years, this has become a more pronounced trend in recent times. Over the past decade, the research shows that when the clocks go back, until they go forward again, burglary rates have been 31% higher.
Overall, November is the highest month for burglary for many years, accounting for 11% of break-ins on average. In most recent years, there has been a rise in burglaries in January and February, with burglaries during these two months almost doubling over the past decade (+92%).
The impact of burglary
PhoneWatch also commissioned research on the impact of burglary on homeowners. Of those surveyed, 52% felt the worst impact of a burglary is the idea of a stranger being in their home, significantly ahead of the loss of possessions at 29%. This sentiment is echoed by those who have been burgled, with 80% saying the lasting impact has been a heightened awareness of strangers in their area.
Burglary is also an event which many homeowners fear, ranking alongside losing one’s job, or getting into financial difficulty, in terms of perceived impact.
When it comes to possessions, it’s the personal items such as heirlooms (23%) or photos (21%) we fear losing the most. Of more replaceable items, over 20% are concerned about their car keys and 9% about credit cards.
Improved vigilance
There is positive news in how people are improving their home protection over the past decade. Today, 49% of Irish homes have an alarm. There has been a considerable increase in the number of people opting for a monitored alarm system. 36% of alarms are now monitored by a professional 24/7 service for added peace of mind.
PhoneWatch, Ireland’s leading provider of monitored burglar and smoke alarms, has seen a 44% growth in customer numbers over the past 10 years, and now protects 109,500 Irish homes. Research shows that a monitored home is 4 times safer than the average, making a monitored alarm one of the most effective deterrents available.
While we are being smarter about our protection, there are still simple errors people are making when it comes to home security. 41% of people admit to having left windows open while away, 38% will leave keys outside.
Eoin Dunne of PhoneWatch commented ‘while it’s very encouraging to see Irish homeowners investing in their home security, it’s worrying to see that we’re still forgetting the basics when it comes to our security. Burglary is predominantly an opportunistic crime, so leaving windows open, or keys where they can be found are mistakes that can be easily avoided. It’s the simple precautions which are often the most effective in protecting our homes.’
The research clearly shows that overall, we’re getting better at protecting our homes, and these added steps are having an impact with a welcome fall in burglaries. Ultimately, the safety of our homes is in our hands, with the research showing that taking additional precautions can make a significant difference. For additional home safety tips, visit PhoneWatch.ie
