Rise in Laois burglaries partly due to lockdown easing

Gardai believe local criminals were responsible for about half of burglaries committed in the county at the end of last year.

Sgt Graham Kavanagh told a meeting of Laois Joint Policing Committee that there had been 60 burglaries in the last three months of 2021 compared to 26 during the same period in 2020.  Not all involved houses with thefts from locked sheds included in the figures, the meeting was informed.

Laois TD Brian Stanely expressed shock that there had been 60 burglaries in 12 weeks. "That's five burglaries a week," he remarked. He wanted to know if there was any particular reason for the jump in figures. He asked if criminals travelling through the county were responsible or whether local criminals were involved.

Garda Superintendent John Lawless told the meeting that “there has been a rise in burglaries since the lifting of restrictions.” 

He expressed his belief that it was "near enough half and half" and he said a number of people have been charged in relation to local burglaries. Although people are being charged in connection with burglaries, he said "it isn't just down to one gang."