Gardai put additional resources into tackling rise in burglaries
By Maurice Garvey
BURGLARIES increased significantly in the Clondalkin area by 34 per cent last year, according to local garda statistics.
According to Clondalkin gardai, there were 310 burglaries in the area in 2019.
Speaking at the South Dublin County Council Policing Meeting, Supt James Dalton, Clondalkin Garda Station, acknowledged a “significant increase in burglaries” but said they had put additional resources into tackling the problem.
“Crime analysis identified certain trends. We put in heavier patrols, added resources and significantly targeted areas. A number of offenders were apprehended last weekend,” said Supt Dalton.
Other Clondalkin increases in 2019 included criminal damage (273 cases), robbery of person (18 cases – including taxi drivers targeted by passengers), theft from shops (146 cases) and public order incidents (109 cases).
There was 17 robberies from an establishment, which included a number of bookies targeted before Christmas, while they were closing up for the night.
Theft from motor vehicles cases increased last year by 16 per cent to 235 cases.
Gardai say this includes cases of thefts of catalytic converters, and numerous incidents in public car parks, where valuables in the car were visible to opportunistic thieves.
Possession of drugs for sale and supply cases was up 36 per cent, with 256 incidents – attributed by gardai to an increase in search operations.
Possession of a weapon was up 32 per cent to indicate 34 such cases in 2019 in the Clondalkin area.
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