Gardai Release Tips For Preventing Home Burglaries This Summer

Having someone break into your home and steal your important belongings is a horrific event for anyone to experience.

With that in mind, the Gardai have released latest figures on home break-ins in Ireland, along with tips to help prevent the chances of your house being burgled.

RTE reports that break-ins are most likely to happen between midnight and 4am, and between noon and 3pm, and one in four break-ins in the months June to August were helped by an unsecured window or door.

Gardai recommended homeowners to plant "defensive" plants in their gardens, such as prickly hedges like Mahonia, Purple Berberis, Ulex Europeans, Golden Bamboo, Firethorn and Shrub Rose.

A Garda spokesperson also said that "hedges and shrubs in the front garden should also be kept to a height of no more than three feet in order to avoid giving a burglar a screen behind which they can hide."

And the most important tip? A warning to not post on social media while away on holidays.

“Regarding holiday plans, don’t advertise your itinerary on social media, post your holiday pictures when you return and don’t tag people in photographs without their permission. You could be letting people know their house is vacant."

Take note.