Mayo burglaries up by 13 percent

Mayo burglaries up by 13 percent



Trevor Quinn

New crime figures released on Friday confirmed that burglary cases in Mayo increased by 13 per cent during the last 12 months to June, which led to one councillor calling for minimum sentences for offenders who prey on the elderly.
Members of the Mayo Joint Policing Committee were told by Chief Supt Barry O’Brien that 447 burglaries occurred between June 2012 and June 2013, an increase of 50 cases on the previous 12-month period.
Chief Supt O’Brien said the ‘main driver’ behind the increase was a rise in burglaries occurring in the late afternoon during the winter months.
Fine Gael County Councillor Jerry Coyle said the increase was a worrying trend. He added that he believed that ‘minimum sentences’ should be imposed on people who are convicted of burglary.
Fianna FΡil Councillor Al McDonnell said the perpetrators of such opportunistic crimes should not be shown any sympathy by the judicial system.
Chief Supt O’Brien agreed with his new committee members. He stated that he believed the seriousness of such offences had to be dealt with in an appropriate manner. “Certainly with crimes like that against the elderly, I’d be looking for a conviction in the circuit court,” he said.
The Mayo JPC chairman advised home owners and residents to be vigilant. He said  neighbours or friends should be asked to monitor on any unoccupied properties if people were travelling away during the coming months. He also said it was important for those with CCTV to ensure their system was functioning properly.
There was a reduction in the number of sale-and-supply drug offences recorded, with the total falling from 35 in 2011/12 down to 27 in 2012/13. Chief Supt O’Brien said he had some scepticism in relation to those figures, however, as there had been two significant seizures of cannabis herb during the last two weeks.
JPC members were told that public order cases (down 16 per cent) and assault cases also fell in the county during this period.