Theft in Louth is on the rise, as shoplifting remains a significant issue

Bicycle theft and burglaries are also on the rise in Louth, as MEP calls for prison time for second offenders

There has been 1,376 incidents of shoplifting in Louth in 2024, an increase of 300% since 2003.

Between 2023 and 2024 alone, shoplifting in the Louth Garda division grew by 35%.

Theft and related offences continue to be the most frequently recorded crimes in Louth, with 673 incidents towards the end of 2024, an increase from 539 during the same time in 2023.

Shoplifting remains a significant issue, rising from 259 to 350 cases.

Vehicle thefts also saw an increase, with 97 incidents recorded in 2024 compared to 71 in 2023.

Burglary-related offences surged from 57 towards the end of 2023 to 87 towards the end of 2024.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association estimated that retail crime costs retailers over of €1.62 billion each year.

Additionally, the Global Retail Theft Barometer indicates that Ireland has the highest cost per capita of retail crime (€339.31) - significantly more than both second and third placed countries, Iceland and Denmark.

Mr. Arnold Dillon, Director of Retail Ireland and IBEC board member said, "Business owners across Ireland are adversely affected by organised retail crime and shoplifting each year and can lose a significant amount in revenue as a result. Continuing to work in close partnership with Government and An Garda Síochána to address the challenges caused by retail theft is essential to the maintaining the strength of Ireland’s retail community.”

Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú is calling for the Government to introduce the Retail Crime Strategy, which was promised in the Programme for Government.

The Ireland South MEP has also called for other measures, stated below:

Mandatory prison sentences for anyone caught shoplifting on more than one occasion
Update the Public Order Acts to allow a prolific offender of retail crime to be excluded from a premises for a certain period of time.
Support targeted garda operations to tackle retail crime and remove assets from those suspected of organised retail theft.
Introduce a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker.
End the practice of ‘retail defamation’ where someone can sue a retailer for defamation if they are stopped with the bona fide belief that they have stolen something from the shop.