INCIDENTS OF murder, burglary, robbery, rape and arson have all increased in the last year, according to latest figures from the Central Statistic Office (CSO)
A comparison of figures from the 12 months to September with the same period last year shows a substantial increase in these crimes.
Aggravated burglaries (those involving the use of a weapon) rose by almost a quarter in the year to September 30th, totalling 372 incidents, up from 300 in the corresponding period last year.
There were 7,047 non- aggravated burglaries between July and September, up 26.9 per cent on the same period in 2008. Non-aggravated burglaries were up more than 5 per cent to 26,383 in the year to September 30th.
The largest increase in these crimes took place in recent months. Aggravated burglaries were up more than 50 per cent in the three months to the end of September, to 95 from 63, while non-aggravated burglaries were up by just over a quarter, to 7,047 from 5,555.
Robbery from a business or institution increased by 7.7 per cent to 196 incidents in the third quarter, muggings were up 8.4 per cent to 361 in the same period, while other thefts including the handling of stolen property were up by more than 10 per cent to 10,893 incidents.
Sexual offences showed an increase of 0.2 per cent in the 12-month period.
However, some crimes in this category rose substantially. Rapes increased by 8.3 per cent to 378, while statutory rape, listed as “defilement of a boy or girl less than 17 years old” increased by 40.5 per cent to 104 incidents – one of the highest increases of any crime over the period.
There was also a marked increase in arson attacks, both in the 12-month period and in the third-quarter comparisons. Over the year, arson increased by 28.2 per cent to 2,840 incidents. During the last quarter, such attacks were up by more than 50 per cent to 818 incidents.
The inclusion in the “homicides” category of offences involving dangerous driving causing death masks the fact that while the overall homicide rate is down, murders rose by 11.3 per cent, to 59.
There was a sharp decline in the number of offences involving dangerous driving causing death, bringing the homicide figure down by almost one-sixth over the 12-months.
There were 20 incidents of dangerous driving leading to death over the year, 42.9 per cent fewer than the previous period.
Figures for deaths caused by drivers in the third quarter are even more dramatic, showing a 75 per cent decrease, down to two incidents.
