IN THE LAST six months of last year, approximately €10.7 million worth of jewellry and cash was burgled from homes.

Gardaí advised householders today – Anti-Burglary Day – that valuables are out of sight.

Jewellery and cash accounted for 75 per cent of the property stolen in burglaries in the last six months of 2013, accordning to the gardaí.

Keys

There were also over a hundred cases of keys being “fished” through letterboxes by burglars.

The gardaí says “fishing” where burglars place implements such as adapted fishing rods through letterboxes to “fish” car and house keys from hall tables, can result in houses being easily entered or cars being stolen from outside the house.

Over half of burglars don’t sneak around the back of your house – over half come through your front door, said the gardaí, stating that people need to be more vigilant.

The latest report by the Garda Síochána Analysis Service shows that the main entry points by burglars to houses are through a rear window – 28 per cent, the front door – 27 per cent and rear door – 25 per cent.

Burglaries

The time of the year can also influence how and when burglars seek to enter homes. In winter, up to 20 per cent of burglaries occur during twilight hours when homes can look unoccupied. While in summer months, burglaries are more likely to take place through unsecured doors and windows.

Over 30 per cent of burglaries take place between 5pm and 8pm, while 15 per cent occurred overnight during the past six months.