Residential burglaries reportedly fell by more than 21% throughout the winter, according to the Garda.
The number of burglaries decreased last winter as compared to last summer, according to new garda figures released today.
The officer in charge of organised and serious crime said the reduction is an effect of Operation Thor, which was started seven years ago to target mobile burglary gangs.
In November 2015, Operation Thor was established to hunt down violent mobile burglary gangs who target on homes and businesses across the nation by using the road system.
Since then, gardaí said the crime of burglary has been trending downwards.
Almost 3,000 houses were broken into last winter, however according to the garda, this statistic marks a 2.8% drop from the previous summer and a 21.6% drop in domestic burglaries year over year.
This is the first winter with a reported decline in residential burglary, which usually to increase in the winter.
More than 1,200 searches were conducted, more than 950 persons were arrested, and more than 1,400 charges were issued.
Garda also claimed that as part of the operation, they put up more than 22,000 checkpoints and conducted more than 133,000 patrols.
Compared to the previous year, there was a 7% drop in recorded home burglaries in the 12 months leading up to March 2023.
According to Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly, the Garda head of Organised and Serious Crime, the decline in burglaries is “a major development in keeping people safe and ensuring that citizens feel safe in their own homes.”
The garda will keep going after burglary suspects and groups, especially those who “attempt to use the motorway network to benefit their criminal activities,” according to Assistant Commissioner Kelly.