The number of home burglaries during the winter months have decreased by 50% in the last four years.
Gardaí say this can be attributed to the success of the Winter Phase of Operation Thor, which has just been launched for its fifth year.
The operation targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through crime prevention and enforcement activity.
In the winter of 2014/2015, there were 12,057 home burglaries reported to gardaí.
This fell to 5,997 during winter 2018/2019, which is a 50% decrease over four years, and also an annual drop of 10% on the previous period.
Analysis from the gardaí found that home burglaries increase between the hours of 5pm and 10pm during winter.
One fifth of intruders entered the house through an unlocked door or window, with burglars tending to target cash and jewellery.
According to the gardaí, the number of burglaries tend to rise by about 20% in the winter months when there are fewer daylight hours.
Gardaí will focus their attention over the coming months on crime investigations and prevention, supporting victims, and creating awareness of the issue.
Speaking at a National Implementation Meeting this morning, Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll, Special Crime Operations said that "considerable success has been achieved in tackling residential burglaries, in the course of Operation Thor".
"However, every burglary results in at least one additional victim.
He continued: "For this reason, the Garda Síochána is determined, through launching the Winter Phase of Operation Thor, to further reduce the number of burglaries that occur throughout the country”.
