Echo Opinion: Burglary figures up, gardaí down

CHRISTMAS is a happy time for most of us, with the festive season providing a lift from the harshness of winter cold and the misery of the dark evenings.

Streets are lit up with an abundance of tinsel and lights; shops redecorate their window displays in order to entice you to spend more than you have; and good humour is in the air, especially since the tiny inkling of a lift in the austerity packages appears from the mouths of the politicians.

But there is another person who is also extremely happy – and the statistics from our gardaí verify that.

The thieves, the robbers, the burglars are making hay at the moment. They see us with our guards down, our alarms off, our generosity still unguarded.

They take advantage and steal into our houses and proceed to make our lives that little bit more miserable when we find our homes trashed and our well-earned possessions stolen.

Over 40 burglaries occurred in early November according to garda figures.

This coincides with the news that community gardaí have taken a hit in numbers with some saying that they are down by over 50 per cent from the level they should be at.

It is up to the general public to be vigilant now. Put on your alarms, even when you are in the house; lock your car; don’t keep any money on your premises; ask for identification from people collectiing for charities; and above all, keep a watch out for prowlers and suspicious-looking characters hanging around your district.

Make this a happy Christmas for the family, not for the burglar.