Laois Offaly Gardaí issue advise on burglary prevention measures

With the dark evenings closing in, gardai continue to work with communities to prevent and detect burglaries.

“As homeowners we can do certain things to reduce opportunities and increase the risk to offenders being caught,” explained Laois Offaly Crime Prevention Officer, Sgt Graham Kavanagh. 

According to gardaí, keeping the burglar out starts with keeping gates closed. An open gate is an invitation onto a property, but if a criminal has to climb over a gate or wall, they know that trespassing increases their chances of getting caught.

Householders are advised to turn on lights, use timer switches, lock all doors and use an alarm to deter burglars. Cash and jewellery remain the target, so people are advised not to keep large amounts of cash at home and consider a certified safe if there is expensive jewellery in the property.

During the pandemic it became clear that burglars don’t generally target occupied properties, so making a home look like it is occupied can be a great deterrent. Smart home security devices such as video doorbells are a great tool for protecting homes when people aren’t around

More affordable than traditional CCTV systems, they can be self-installed and ensure the householder can view a live feed from the camera through a smartphone even when they’re not at home. More importantly they allow people to remotely speak with a caller, giving the impression someone is at home.