Sharp rise in thefts in Cork city last year

GARDAÍ in Cork are reporting a sharp increase in thefts from shops and in the number of reported incidents of crimes against property.

Last year, there were 4,601 crimes against property in Cork city, including 2,121 thefts from shops, up from 1,702 reported incidents in 2022, and 296 incidents of non-aggravated burglary.

Thefts from shops were also the highest among property crimes in Cork North, where 474 incidents were reported, and Cork West, with 163 incidents.

The increase in Cork North was marginal — there were two extra shop-theft incidents in 2023 compared to 2022, while there was a higher increase in Cork West, up to 163 from 145.

The figures were detailed by Superintendent Michael Corbett at a meeting of Co Cork’s joint policing committee this week.

Crimes against the person

Supt Corbett said the number of crimes against the person in 2023 was slightly down on 2022 in Cork’s three Garda regions.

In Cork city, 1,378 incidents of crimes against the person were reported to gardaí, and this number included 227 assaults causing harm, down from 295 in 2022, and 932 reports of minor assaults — a decrease from 964 in 2022.

In Cork North, 158 incidents of assaults causing harm were reported, with 418 minor assaults, while there were 72 assaults causing harm in Cork West, up from 60 in 2022, with 232 minor assaults reported.

Arson & criminal damage

Incidents of arson in Cork North were up from 27 in 2022 to 42 in 2023, but the numbers of reports of fires started deliberately were down from 107 to 74 in the city region and there was also a decrease of such incidents in Cork West, down from 14 to 10.

While there was a slight decrease in the number of reported incidents of other criminal damage in Cork city, down from 1,159 in 2022 to 1,073 in 2023, there were increases in this category in both Cork North, up from 430 to 459, and Cork West, where it increased from 191 to 205 in 2023.

Road traffic incidents

There was a sharp hike in the number of motorists caught for driving while intoxicated in Cork city in 2023, up to 284 incidents from 250, compared to slight decreases in Cork North (down from 301 to 273) and Cork West (a decrease from 177 to 165 incidents).

There were 15 road-collision fatalities in Cork in 2023. Four of these occurred in Cork city, six in Cork North, and five in Cork West. The number of fatalities in Cork West was down from a high of 11 in 2022.

In Cork West, there was a significant increase in traffic collisions with reports of material damage only, up from 1,111 in 2022 to 3,536 in 2023.

Sexual offences

In the sexual-offence categories, there were 49 reports of rape in Cork city in 2023, up from 46 in 2022. Some 114 incidents of non-aggravated sexual assault were reported, down from 122 in 2022.

The number of rapes reported in Cork North was 17 in 2023, down from 37 in 2022, while 59 non-aggravated sexual assaults were reported, up from 57 in 2022.

In Cork West, 18 rapes were reported, up from 14 in 2022, with 30 reports of non-aggravated sexual assault.

Drug offences

In the area of drug possession, there were 190 reports of possession with intent to supply and 684 incidents of drug possession for personal use in Cork city. Offences in both categories were down compared to the 2022 figures.

In Cork North, there were 106 reports of drug possession for sale or supply, down slightly from 109, while the number of incidents of drug possession for personal use was up from 556 in 2022 to 580 in 2023.

In Cork West, there were 58 incidents of drug possession for sale or supply in 2022, down from 72 in 2023 and 186 incidents of drug possession for personal use, up from 178 in 2022.