Ulster Unionist MLA for North Down and Northern Ireland Policing Board member Leslie Cree has expressed his concern over continued spates of domestic burglary in Northern Ireland. Overall, from 1^st April until the 9^th November there were nearly 4,500 burglaries in Northern Ireland. This amounts to a 7.8% increase.

 

Leslie said, “I am concerned that domestic burglaries in Northern Ireland continue to be on the increase. While Northern Ireland has a much lower domestic burglary rate than England and Wales, domestic burglary remains a significant problem across Northern Ireland, particularly in rural areas which have seen as increase of 13.2%.

“The police are aiming for there to be less than 6,000 domestic burglaries by 2010/11. It would certainly appear that we aren’t going to make that target. In fact, there needs to be a decrease of 9.2% by the end of 2009/10.

“Last year’s domestic burglary figures were also up by 9.5%. This latest sustained increase appears to be continuing a more serious and longer-term trend.

“Recent weeks have shown a spate of burglaries against the elderly. These attacks whip up fear in the community. I would ask the community to be vigilant and to regularly check on elderly friends and neighbours.

 

“Operation Heartbreak has had some solid successes and I will be asking the police to build upon those and to target prolific offenders. I will also be asking them to focus energies in rural areas which have seen the steepest increase. This criminals need to be stopped in their tracks before Northern Ireland reaches the levels currently seen across the water.”