TWO-THIRDS of all thefts and robberies involve mobile phones being stolen, according to new figures from An Garda Síochána.
They also show that two in five phone thefts take place on a road, street or footpath, while one in five occur in a licensed premise while people are out socialising.
The statistics from the Garda Síochána Analysis Service (GSAS) have been released as part of a major new personal safety campaign which runs throughout March.
The ‘Streetwise’ campaign is targeting 18 to 39 year-olds with a message to mind their personal property and possessions, and to plan their nights out.
The public awareness campaign will include advertising on digital media, outdoor advertising and in-pub advertising. On social media, An Garda Síochána is advising people to #mindyourstuff.
There will also be increased patrolling at night in locations identified as having high levels of robberies from the person and assaults.
The GSAS found:
· 3 in 4 victims of phone theft are aged between 18 and 39
· 2 in 5 thefts occur between 10pm and 4am between Friday and Sunday
· There were 5,703 phone thefts in 2016, down 14% on 2015
· 498 phones were reported stolen last March, compared to 641 in 2015
· €2.5m worth of mobile phones were stolen in 2016
Sergeant Kelvin Courtney of the National Crime Prevention Unit said: “Last year €2.5million worth of mobile phones were stolen. In three out of four thefts where a mobile phone was stolen the victim was aged between 18 and 39. This campaign is a reminder to people to be streetwise when out in public as 40 per cent of all thefts and robberies took place on a street, road or footpath with a further 20 per cent taking place in a licensed premises or restaurant-type location.
“We want people to enjoy their nights out and the best way to do that is to have a plan.
“Think about how you are getting to and from a location. Let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back. Avoid walking alone and in dark locations. Never engage with drunk or aggressive people, use your brain not your fist. Finally be streetwise, take care of your property, particularly mobile phones and purses or wallets. Mind yourselves, mind your stuff and have a plan.”
The ‘Streetwise’ campaign aims to build on previous successful crime prevention campaigns by An Garda Síochána to further reduce thefts, robberies and assaults through crime prevention, law enforcement, education and awareness.
A similar crime prevention campaign highlighting mobile phone security last March saw a marked reduction in the number of handsets stolen from the previous year. There was a 22 per cent reduction in the number of incidents of theft or robbery, where a mobile phone was stolen, reported in March 2016 (498) compared to March 2015 (641).
