THE CRIME VICTIMS Helpline reported a 15% increase in incoming calls last year, as well as a 66% increase in contacts related to theft.

There was also a 46% increase in the number of calls related to burglary, according to its 2024 annual report.

The Crime Victims Helpline (CVH) is a national support service for victims of crime in Ireland.

It offers support to anyone who has been impacted by crime, regardless of the nature of the crime, when the crime happened, or whether it has been reported to gardaí.

While incoming calls increased by 15% last year, the CVH said it was “delighted to note” a decline in missed calls, down 29%, as well as a decrease in voicemails, down 30%.

The CVH said this highlights how it has taken steps to expand capacity by increasing helpline opening hours and strengthening its volunteer programme.

Contacts in relation to theft-related incidents rose by 66% (133 contacts in 2024 compared to 80 in 2023) and burglary related contacts rose by 46% (115 in 2024 compared with 79 in 2023).

Theft is the act of unlawfully taking someone’s property while burglary involves trespassing into a building with the intent to commit a crime.

There were also a further 54 calls made in relation to car theft.

Meanwhile, contacts in relation to assault and harassment / stalking continued to be main types of crime that contact was made in relation to last year, with 44 contacts being made in relation to racist hate crimes – up from 15 in 2023.

However, the report found that there was a decline in contacts related to “sextortion”, which is a type of online blackmail involving a threat to share sexual pictures, videos, or information.

The CVH said there was a “large increase” in calls relating to sextortion in 2023 and this decrease “may signal a shift in crime patterns or public engagement on these issues”.

The report also found that Dublin once more accounted for the most amount of contacts at 39% of location-identified calls, above its 28.3% share of the national population.

Cork followed with 9.2% of contacts while Galway, Limerick and Kildare contributed between 3.5% and 5% of contacts.

Elsewhere, the CVH made over 3,500 referrals last year to a number of different organisations, supports and resources, with the vast majority of referrals being made to the Gardaí and Garda Victim Service Offices.

Michele Puckhaber, Chief Executive of the CVH, said that the “significant increase in contacts relating to theft and burglary showcases a shift in crime patterns during the past year”.

Meanwhile, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said his department is “committed to supporting the Crimes Victims Helpline as it expands its capacity through longer helpline hours and a strengthened volunteer programme”.

The CVH is open from 10am to 7.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 10am to 5pm on Friday.

The helpline also opened from 2pm to 4pm on Saturdays and Bank Holidays and it closed on Sundays.

It also provides an interpreter service from Monday to Friday.

Callers can call the Helpline at any time outside these hours and leave a message, and the call will be returned when the Helpline reopens.