Dundalk sees rise in a number of crimes

Burglaries, Theft from Persons, Thefts from Shops, Thefts from Vehicles, Robberies from Persons, Robberies from Establishments, Minor Assaults, Criminal Damage and Section 23 Drug Offences in Dundalk all showed an increase compared with the same period last year, the Dundalk JPC (Joint Policing Committee) heard at the November meeting on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Serious Assaults, Public Order Offences, Sale/Supply of Drugs and Sexual Offences all saw a decrease compared with the same period in 2022.

Superintendent Charlie Armstrong presented the figures to the November meeting alongside the numbers for the same period last year and for the same period in 2020.

The figures showed that:

Burglaries rose from 107 to 109 while Thefts from Shops also rose from 346 in 2022 to 453 in the same period this year.

The numbers for 2020 showed Burglaries standing at 101 and Thefts from Shops at 293.

Thefts from Vehicles rose from 52 to 87 while Robbery from Establishments rose from 6 to 9.

In the same period in 2020 Thefts from Vehicles stood at 75 while Robbery from Establishments was at 9.

Robberies from Persons also saw an increase from 11 to 15. The 2020 figure was 3.

Incidents of Criminal Damage saw a significant increase rising to 292 from 231 in the same period last year; this compares with 275 incidents in 2020.

Sexual Offences decreased slightly standing at 36 compared to 37 last year and 36 in 2020.

Offences that also increased included Thefts from Persons which increased from 6 to 10.

There were 8 recorded Thefts from Persons in the same period in 2020.

Minor Assaults increased slightly from 120 to 124, however, Assaults Causing Harm decreased significantly from 103 to 77.

The same figures stood at 116 and 79 respectively in 2020.

Drugs offences also decreased with Sale/Supply Offences decreasing from 45 to 42 and however, Possession for Own Use statistics rose from 185 to 197.

In 2020, there were 78 Sale/Supply Offences and 371 Possession for Own Use offences.
Public Order Offences were also down from 259 in the same period last year to 223 this year. The figure was 266 in 2020.

Additionally, Superintendent Armstrong revealed that there were also 371 section 23 searches (under the misuse of drugs act) and 156 searches under warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

There were also 40 arrests for Possession of Offensive weapons.

When it comes to road traffic offences, gardai recorded 70 cases of Driving While Intoxicated and 12 collisions resulting in serious injury.

There have also been three fatal road traffic collisions to date in 2023.