This document summarizes information from an Garda Síochána webinar on rural crime prevention. It notes that burglaries have dropped 37% since Operation Thor began in 2015. The highest value items stolen are cash, jewelry, tools, and electronics. It encourages property owners to mark and record valuable possessions using the new Garda property app. Burglars tend to target empty homes, so signs of vacancy should be avoided. Bogus callers may try to gain access so don't open doors without confirming identities. Community alert schemes allow sharing of incident reports. Proper lighting and GPS tracking of equipment can help increase security and the chances of catching criminals. Any suspicious activity or crimes should be reported to Garda immediately.

1. An Garda
Síochána
• Sergeant Graham
Kavanagh
• Crime Prevention Officer
• Laois and Offaly
• IFA RURAL CRIME
WEBINAR
• OCTOBER 2022

2. FACTS
Burglary Incidents
have dropped by 37%
since the
commencement of
Operation Thor
(November 2015)
Residential Burglary
+33% (2021) but
remains down -38%
(2019)
Wintertime most
burglary activity is
between 5pm and
10pm

3. WHAT ARE THE HIGHEST
VALUE ITEM STOLEN?
• CASH
• JEWELLRY
• TOOLS
• ELECTRONICS

4. Record details of and mark your
valuable property. NEW GARDA
PROPERTY APP
* Marked property is less
desirable to burglars as it is
harder for them to sell.
* Marked property is more
likely to be returned to its
owner
* Marking property with
your Eircode allows us to
uniquely identify your
property and therefore you,
the owner
* For advice on property
marking talk to your local
Crime Prevention Officer

5. • Most burglars are
opportunists and will select
the easiest target that they
can find. Don’t offer them
assistance.
• Signs of vacancy.
• The majority of burglaries
take place in unoccupied
homes.
• Doors, windows, Locks,
Lighting, Alarms
https://fb.watch/gh0z0aGx9L/

6. • Bogus callers will say anything to get into
your home or onto your property
• Take precautions -
• • Do not open the door to anyone before
you’ve checked who it is and what they want.
Use your door viewer and chain/limiter.
• • Check identification, where appropriate.
• • Do not leave strangers unattended at your
doorstep.
• • Ensure your back door is locked when you
answer a call at the front door.
• •keep gates to yards closed.
• We advise and encourage people not to
engage with such callers. Don't open your
door to anyone before you have checked who
it is and what they want. They can be
intimidating and refuse to take no for an
answer. We ask you to be vigilant when out
and about and report suspicious
persons/vehicles to us immediately
• Use your SAS.

7. • Gardaí need your support and co-
operation to fight crime
• Remove the Means/Pay Off: Key
things to remember
• • Keep your keys on you, not in
the vehicle!
• • Tractors and quad bikes are
the most commonly targeted vehicles.
• • Store quad bikes out of sight
when they are not in use.
• • Take photos and record the
details of your vehicles.
• • Mark them with a code
unique to you.
– https://fb.watch/gh0xhfbKPQ/

8. • Rule Setting: Signing up to Community
Alert and Text alert (schemes) allows
rural communities to be aware of any
reported incidents in their area. This is
a simple and quick process to set up and
is a vital part of community policing.
• Increasing the chances of being caught:
Another simple yet effective measure to
combat criminals is to have your
outbuildings and yard well lit. Ensuring
a good level of lighting around the
farmyard at all times will also help.
• GPS Tracking is advisable for expensive
farm equipment and machinery
• We can’t investigate a crime unless you
first report it to us.
• So always report farm thefts to your
local Gardai

9. • If you have any security concerns
• If you have any information you think might be
helpful
• If you want to report any suspicious activity
• If you think you have been the victim of a crime
report it to An Garda Síochána immediately
• Be informed:
• For more information check out garda.ie
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