NEW LAWS HAVE been introduced to crackdown on burglars who repeatedly offend.
Figures show that 75% of burglaries are committed by just 25% of burglars, and new legislation targets this group specifically.
Under the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015, which came into force yesterday, bail can be denied to repeat offenders.
Jail terms will also be increased, with offenders serving sentences consecutively in cases where they are convicted of multiple burglary offences.
The Act comes into effect as part of Operation Thor, an initiative launched by gardaí last November to prevent rural crime.
At the time of its inception, criminal gangs using high-powered vehicles on Ireland’s motorway network to evade capture was identified as a major issue.
Speaking about the new measures, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said: “Burglary of a person’s home is a heinous crime and traumatic for every victim. This important new Act targets repeat burglars.
It will help keep repeat burglars off the streets and improve the safety of our communities.
The Minister went on to say that it was a “hardened cohort” that this act was going after.
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