CRIME is on the rise across the Republic with a surge in calls from the public to a special helpline. The National Crime Victims Helpline has witnessed a seven percent rise in the volume of calls this year, with a noticeable number concerning burglary.
The calls, reporting people as being victims of break-ins, reflect national crime statistics that show burglary is indeed on the rise in Ireland.
Maeve Ryan, coordinator with the Helpline, explained: "This is a crime which can have serious effects on the people affected. One of the main effects we hear about is the fear people experience after a break-in, because once it has happened the fear is that it will happen again. There is also the loss suffered when cash, jewelry and other items are stolen. Many parents worry about the impact of the crime on their children."
Other crimes being reported to helpline staff, also in increasing numbers, include theft and fraud, this leading to fears that perpetrators are being spurred into criminal behavior by the effects of Ireland's economic crisis, which has left many people financially challenged.
