Thefts and burglaries rise in Nenagh

Property crime, which includes burglaries, robberies and serious theft offences, has increased by 36 per cent in the Nenagh garda district over the past twelve months, the Garda Chief Superintendent for Tipperary and Clare, Colm O' Sullivan revealed at the December meeting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee held in Thurles on Thursday last.

Incidents of this nature rose from 215 in 2021 to 292 in the district this year. Nenagh was not alone in experiencing a significant increase in such crimes, with similar trends also recorded in the other four garda districts within Tipperary.

The Thurles District actually recorded a higher rise (46%), as did the Tipperary Town district (63%).

While three of the districts recorded increases in non-aggravated burglaries - including an 80 per cent spike in Tipperary Town - Nenagh actually recorded a reduction of 25 per cent, down from 56 such crimes in 2021 to 42 this year.

Crimes against the person, which includes assaults, harassment and neglect or abuse also increased almost right across the county, bar the Tipperary Town District. In Nenagh this type of crime was up 28 per cent, from 101 cases in 2021 to 129 in the current year.

Assaults in Co Tipperary increased year-on-year by 18 per cent, Nenagh recording an increase of 39 per cent - from 70 incidents last year compared to 97 this year. Crimes of assaults causing harm throughout the county rose by 43 per cent.

Possession of drugs was down 35 per cent in the year to date, and crimes of having drugs for sale or supply were down 14 per cent across the county. Possession of offensive weapons was down 19 per cent.

FATAL CRASHES

Fatal collisions on Tipperary roads is currently at eight in the year to date - identical to the same period last year. The Chief Superintendent said there were far too many deaths and serious injuries caused on our roads and he urged drivers to slow down, take more care and to wear their seatbelts. Serious collisions across the county increased by 18 per cent.

Intoxicated driving detections so far this year are up 3 per cent - a total of 262 intoxicated driving incidents were detected. These include 58 drug driving incidents, which were actually down 19 per cent on last year.

Chief Superintendent O' Sullivan said the increase in crimes of burglaries and robberies in the past year was in part due to the lifting of restrictions that were imposed during the worst stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. The most recent figures were more in line with rates that were evident in the pre-Covid years of 2018 and 2019.

Deputy Mattie McGrath said the burglaries could be attributed in part to people who owed drug debts. Many individuals were under pressure to pay up from drug gangs which operated in every town.

Chief Superintendent O' Sullivan also alluded to what he called “a spate of thefts” of catalytic converts from cars across the county in the past year. He alluded to one person being arrested and said gardaí were tackling this crime.

Staying with thefts from vehicles, he said it was amazing the number of people who left their keys in cars outside their houses overnight, resulting in easy opportunities for thieves.