Theft offences in Laois/Offaly spike as drug driving incidents double

There has been a spike in the number of theft offences in the Laois Offaly Garda Division, according to the latest crime stats published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

 
Theft offences in the District rose by 41% during the first three months of 2024 with 478 offences recorded compared to 338 during the same period in 2023. 

Drug driving offences were also on the rise doubling from four in the first quarter of 2023 to eight in 2024. 
Fraud, deception and related offences also jumped by 20% rising to 94 between January and March 2024. 

Burglaries increased from 81 to 91, a 12% hike. Offences relating to weapons and explosives increased in the first quarter by 19% up from 16 to 19 year-on-year.

Sexual offences in the Laois Offaly Garda Division dropped by 6% from 30 to 28, threats to kill were down from 22 to 17 and harassment and related offences dropped by 43% to 13. 

Drink driving was down 35%, according to the CSO figures while robbery, extortion and hijacking offences were down 69%. 
Both possession of drugs for sale and supply and for personal use were on the downward trend while criminal damage offences dropped slightly from 155 to 145. 

Public order offences fell from 206 to 164 in the first three months of the year, down 20% and offences that occured while in custody and breach of the courts dipped by 26% to 57.