In an update, gardaí say residential burglaries have dropped by 75pc when the winter and spring period of 2024 and 2025 is compared with the same period in 2014 and 2015. This past winter period, there were an average of around 17 burglaries a day across the 26 counties, “or less than one residential burglary per day per county”. Just over 3,000 residential burglaries reported in 2024/ 2025 winter phase compares with over 12,000 residential burglaries reported a decade ago.
Garda management is attributing the reduction to Operation Thor – the tactic employed to reduce burglaries, particularly in rural areas, and targeting prolific burglary gangs.
Operation Thor is a national operation led and co-ordinated through the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. Operational investigations are primarily carried out by divisional serious crime units supported by checkpoints and searches carried out by uniformed and roads policing gardaí.
The violation of a person’s home is the ultimate invasion of privacy
Detective Chief Superintendent Séamus Boland, of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, said gardaí take a whole-of-organisation approach to tackling rural burglaries being carried out by organised crime groups.
“An Garda Síochána understands and recognises the deeply traumatic impact on any person when their home or business premises is burgled. The violation of a person’s home is the ultimate invasion of privacy and often times, even if nothing of sentimental or monetary value is taken, the place never feels comfortable to a victim again,” he said.
Operation Thor came about as a result of significant public disquiet about organised crime gangs targeting houses in rural areas. The development of the motorway network means it was possible for burglars to strike at night and be back home before the sun rises.
However, gardaí have no room to rest on their laurels. More than half of garda stations are busier than before the pandemic, according to an analysis of official figures. The increase has largely been driven by a rise in the number of thefts and public order offences. The latest figures show theft remains the most common crime, accounting for more than a third of all offences recorded last year. It was the dominant offence registered in 300 garda stations last year.
Retailers are speaking up about how a surge in theft and anti-social behaviour has crippled their sector. CSO figures show theft in shops surged by 3,034 cases in the third quarter of last year – accounting for more than half of the overall increase in theft-related crimes.
As a result, retailers are calling for a new retail crime strategy to tackle this problem. Following on from the success of Operation Thor, gardaí do need to place a similar spotlight on theft. Results will take time and effort, but will ultimately be worth it.
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