Lock Up Light Up

is An Garda Síochána’s anti-burglary awareness campaign which encourages homeowners to protect their homes over the winter months, when burglaries traditionally tend to rise.

Data from the Garda Analysis Service shows that one-third of all burglaries are through the front doors – with most burglars using their own body to gain entry. Other key findings include:

• Burglars also commonly target back doors (26%), back windows (24%) and front windows (8%), with one in five cases involving a burglar getting access through an unsecured door or window.
• Jewellery and cash remain the most common objects stolen, with €600 being the average value of goods taken.
• Computers, mobile phones, TVs and games consoles are also among the top items stolen.
• Nearly half of burglaries (46%) occur between 5pm and 11pm.
• The practice of ‘fishing’, where car keys are fished through a letterbox by burglars.

Having your home burgled is a distressing and traumatic experience. We hope that by raising awareness of some simple crime prevention measures, such as locking up and lighting up, less families will have to endure the pain of being burgled.

If going out, homeowners should endeavour to make sure their home looks occupied:

-Set light schedules

-Secure all windows and doors

-Keep keys safe and secure

-Use a monitored alarm

-Don’t store large amounts of cash 

For more information visit Garda Síochána 'Lock Up Light Up' campaign page