Gardai launch winter crackdown on rural crime in Kilkenny

By COLIN BARTLEY

GARDAI will put on more high-visibility patrols around Kilkenny over the winter months in an effort to discourage rural burglaries.

As part of the ongoing campaign Operation Thor, which targets gangs committing crime in rural areas, gardai will increase patrols around Kilkenny, target criminal activity and increase enforcement, and promote preventative measures.

The level of burglaries has dropped in the Carlow-Kilkenny area over the past year.

However, Garda figures show there is a 20% increase in rural burglaries over the winter months, with a significant increase in break-ins during the hours of 5pm and 10pm over the winter.

The Garda analysis shows one in five intruders enter through an unsecured door or window, while criminals target homes that look unoccupied.

It is the fifth year of the winter phase of Operation Thor and will run until next March.

Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll said: “Considerable success has been achieved in tackling residential burglaries in the course of Operation Thor.

“Gardai are determined, through launching the winter phase of Operation Thor, to further reduce the number of burglaries throughout the country.”