Gardaí say Covid-19 has led to significant reductions in most reported crime in March and April of this year. Property crime was down by more than half (50.2%) in April when compared to April last year, largely because a lot of businesses were shut and more people were staying at home.
This led to a reduction in the number of vacant homes and less opportunities for offenders. Residential burglaries were down by almost 60% (59.7%) and burglary elsewhere reduced by half (49.2%).
Crimes against the person were down by over a quarter (27.4%). Gardaí say this was because of decreased public mobility and the closure of pubs and other premises serving alcohol.