The ongoing positive impact of ‘Operation Thor’ on combatting residential burglaries welcomed by communities.
- Operation Thor is An Garda Síochána’s national strategy targeting organised crime groups involved in burglaries and associated criminal activity.
- The winter phase of Operation Thor commenced on 1 October 2024 and will run until the end of March 2025.
- A reduction of approximately 75% in residential burglaries has been recorded between 2016 and 2023.
Operation Thor, was commenced by An Garda Síochána in 2015, and is designed to tackle an anticipated increase in the number of burglaries and associated criminal activity that usually occur during winter months, by undertaking targeted enforcement and preventative activity. This initiative has successfully reduced the rate of winter burglaries, leading to a significant decline in property-related crime since its introduction.
Between January 1st 2024 and December 11th 2024, some 2,058 arrests and 4,663 charges and summons were recorded in association with Operation Thor.
Operation Thor tackles burglary and actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity, based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends.
Since Operation Thor was established a reduction of approximately 75% in residential burglaries has been recorded between 2016 and 2023.
Last month, a comprehensive policing operation under Operation Thor, resulted in 23 arrests. These individuals were charged with a total of 100 offences including offences for burglary, theft, unauthorised taking of a vehicle and possession of stolen property. Just recently, three people were arrested as part of an intelligence-led operation targeting an organised criminal group suspected of committing burglaries at commercial properties in Galway, Mayo, Cork, Kildare and Wexford.
The Garda crime prevention advice under Operation Thor, which is highlighted through public information campaigns and by Garda Prevention Officers includes the ‘Lock up, Light up’ campaign.
An Garda Síochána also have a free property recording app. Should any items be stolen, the app provides a way of reporting this to An Garda Síochána and gives the public the option to share information with Gardaí for this purpose.
The Department of Justice also provides funding to Muintir na Tíre to cover the costs incurred by community groups in administering the Text Alert Scheme.
Text Alert enables communities to set up a group to receive alerts advising them of suspicious or criminal activity in their area. As well as ensuring awareness among users of the service, it can also lead to them reporting suspicious activity to Gardaí.
Further information on the property marking app, text alert schemes and other crime prevention information can be found on the Garda website: www.garda.ie.
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