Marked increase in assault, theft from shops and public order incidents
By Aideen O'Flaherty
Instances of assault causing harm in Lucan have shown a marked increase in the first four months of this year – with eight incidents having occurred, while only two incidents occurred in the area over the same time period in 2018.
According to gardai, one of these incidents occurred on a sports field, while two occurred in the course of domestic and personal disputes.
Increases in the number of incidents of burglary, theft from vehicles, theft from shops, and public order incidents were recorded in Lucan in the first four months of this year, according to figures released by gardaí at Friday’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee.
The number of burglaries in the area increased from 30 in the first four months of 2018, to 77 in the time period from January 1, 2019, to April 15 this year, while within the same time period 48 thefts from shops were recorded, compared to 23 in 2018.
Twenty-five public order incidents were recorded in Lucan in the first four months of 2018, while in the first four months of this year 51 public order incidents were recorded, and thefts from vehicles increased from 37 incidents in 2018 to 48 so far this year.
A sharp increase was recorded in the number of domestic disputes in the area, with 36 in 2019 compared to 11 in 2018, however the gardaí placed a comment beside the figures explaining the varying incidents that are recorded under the heading of domestic disputes.
They commented: “These Incidents are often minor disputes between family members.
“Disputes between parents and adult children also fall under this category.
“Advices are given to both parties in respect of domestic violence orders.
“A follow-up is done within one month of these incidents being reported and in general they have been resolved without the need for further action.”
The number of thefts of vehicles has remained largely static, with 28 being stolen in 2018 and 27 being stolen in the first four months of this year, while similarly thefts of bicycles were recorded as nine being stolen in 2018, and eight being stolen in 2019.
There were 31 recorded instances of possession of drugs of personal use, compared to 10 in 2018, and 221 searches were carried out by gardaí under the Drugs Act this year, compared to 156 last year.
