Shop thefts in Lucan rise by 62 per cent

By Brendan Grehan

THEFTS FROM shops in Lucan rose by a whopping 62 per cent over the last year according to figures given to South Dublin County Council’s Joint Policing Committee.

However burglaries were nearly down by half within the same period.

For the year ending May 22, 2016, there were 42 reported thefts from shops in Lucan as opposed to 26 in the year ending May 24, 2015, an increase of 62 per cent.

There was a detection rate of 57 per cent for the offences in 2016.

To classify a crime as ‘detected’, criminal proceedings must be brought against at least one offender involved in the crime.

There were three reported incidents of assault causing harm in Lucan in the year ending May 22, 2016 in comparison with six in the previous year. This shows a decrease of 50 per cent and had a detection rate of 53 per cent.

Burglaries fell by nearly half with 56 reported in the year ending May 22, 2016 and 104 in the year ending May 24, 2015, a decrease of 46 per cent, but worryingly there was a detection rate of just four per cent.

Reported incidents of criminal damage were down by 34 per cent, with 51 to the year ending May 22, 2016 and 71 in the year ending May 24, 2015.

There was a detection rate of 11 per cent.

Drug seizures remained level with four reported in the year ending May 22, 2016 and four in the corresponding period from 2015. Detection rates were a clean 100 per cent.

There were three reported incidents of possession of a offensive weapon in the year ending May 22, 2016 and three in the corresponding period from 2015. Again the detection rate was 100 per cent.

Robberies from the person were down by 40 per cent with three reported in the year ending May 22, 2016 and five in the corresponding period from 2015.

The detection rate was just 33 per cent.

Robberies from establish-ments remained stable with four reported in the year ending May 22, 2016 and four in the corresponding period from 2015. Detection rates were 25 per cent.

Thefts from vehicles were down over a quarter with 42 incidents reported in the year ending May 22, 2016 and 57 in the corresponding period from 2015, a decrease of 26 per cent. The detection rates were just six per cent.

Public order incidents were down to 15 incidents reported in the year ending May 22, 2016 and 22 in the corresponding period from 2015, a decrease of 32 per cent. Detection rates were 91 per cent.

The thefts of pedal cycles increased with 26 incidents reported in the year ending May 22, 2016 and 22 in the corresponding period from 2015, an increase of 18 per cent. The detection rate was just four per cent.

Local politican Councillor Liona O’Toole, who attended the JPC meeting gave a cautious welcome to the figures.

She said: “I don’t rely on statistics. You have to drill behind the figures to see what is really happening.

“There would be incidents where people have not reported crime and other times when crimes are reported leading the figure to show an increase. I’m not a lover of statistics unless I know what is behind them.”