thor strikes a hammer blow against thieves
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GARDAI yesterday revealed burglary rates have been almost halved due to the success of Operation Thor.
Provisional figures show the number of house raids fell by 43% from 1,427 nationally for October 2017 to 806 for March 2018.
And burglaries fell by 25% for the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2017.
Gardai are crediting Operation Thor, set up to target organised crime gangs and repeat offenders, for the drop in numbers.
They say burglaries normally increase by 20% in Ireland over the winter due to reduced daylight creating opportunities for criminals.
After a spike in residential break-ins in September and October last year, officers prepared an operational plan for winter, designed to prevent criminals from exploiting the cover of darkness.
A key aspect of the operation was the targeting of organised gangs involved in burglaries, particularly travelling criminals who use high-powered getaway vehicles.
Gardai said Operation Thor has led to “numerous arrests” of these criminals when their cars were identified and intercepted.
Assistant Commissioner, Special Crime Operations, John O’driscoll added: “We are particularly aware of the vulnerability of older people for whom a burglary can be a very traumatic experience and we are determined to identify and apprehend those who exploit their vulnerability.
ENCOURAGING
“The positive conclusion to the Winter Phase of Operation Thor is encouraging and we are refocusing it for the summer months.”
In March, a landmark ruling saw a Dublin man cleared of murdering a trespasser in his home after stabbing him with garden shears.
It was the first murder case defended under the Defence and the Dwelling Act.
Martin Keenan, of Cardiffsbridge Avenue, Finglas, North Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to murdering 33-year-old Wesley Mooney at St Joseph’s Park halting site in North Dublin on June 5, 2016.
The Central Criminal Court heard the 20-year-old and his wife returned home to find two strangers in their bedroom.
The defendant claimed the deceased had attacked him, and that he had picked up the nearest object and hit him with it. The jury acquitted him after being told the law gave latitude to homeowners protecting their property.