HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN advised to lock up over the summer months as new figures from An Garda Síochána show that almost one in every four break-ins from June to August involve an unsecured door or window.

According to the figures, break-ins are most likely to occur between midnight and 4am, and between noon and 3pm. Gardening equipment, tools and bikes are more likely to be stolen by thieves during the summer.

As well as securing doors and windows, An Garda Síochána has advised householders to plant prickly plants to help deter thieves.

Known as “defensive planting”, gardaí said a barrier of prickly hedge along the boundary of a home or underneath a window provides an extra layer of security.

Mahonia, Purple Berberis, Ulex Europeans, Golden Bamboo, Firethorn and Shrub Rose are among the 16 plants gardaí have listed as barriers that help put off thieves from entering properties.

The advice was, aptly, given at the Bloom Festival in Dublin for the launch of the latest Supporting Safer Communities campaign.

The campaign focuses on reducing summertime burglaries through awareness and promotion of good security habits. It is part of Operation Thor, which has reduced home burglaries by 30% through preventative and enforcement measures since it began in 2015.

New figures released by gardaí show:

• Almost one in four home burglaries during the summer involves entry through an unsecured door or window – this falls to one in six during winter
• Most summer home burglaries occur late at night between midnight and 4am and in the afternoon between noon and 3pm
• Overall, there were 16% fewer residential burglaries reported in summer months of 2016 compared to winter months.
• Theft of gardening equipment rose by 23% in summer last year compared to winter, with €191,522 worth of equipment taken
• €32,100 worth of ride-on mowers was stolen last summer, compared to €18,000 worth in winter
• Smaller, less expensive tools such as con-saws and chainsaws are stolen more frequently during summer, while larger industrial power tools are more likely to be taken in winter
• The value of bicycles stolen in summer 2016 was €278,339, compared to €226,342 in winter
• Sports equipment is also a greater target in summer – €36,620 went missing last summer in contrast to €22,221 in winter

Holiday photos

Sergeant Kelvin Courtney of the Garda Crime Prevention National Centre of Excellence said: “We want people to be aware of how unsecured doors or windows create an opportunity for a burglar during the summer.

“Over the next week, community police officers across the country will be very active in advising people how best to avoid such break-ins. Don’t make the job of a burglar any easier for them – that’s the message.

The summer months are also a good time to think about defensive planting. Hedges and shrubs in the front garden should also be kept to a height of no more than three feet in order to avoid giving a burglar a screen behind which they can hide.

Courtney also advised people who are on holidays to refrain from posting on social media as it will alert potential burglars that their home is vacant.

“We should make sure our homes look occupied when we’re away on holidays. Cancel deliveries, ask trusted neighbours to regularly check on your home and take away post.

“Regarding holiday plans, don’t advertise your itinerary on social media, post your holiday pictures when you return and don’t tag people in photographs without their permission. You could be letting people know their house is vacant,” Courtney said.

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