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Defensive gardening and sensor lights: How to protect your home from burglars this Christmas

Burglaries are down significantly over the the Covid period.

IT’S ANOTHER COVID Christmas but this time it’s a bit different: more home visits are likely this year, even amid the advice to limit such visits to four households at a time. 

Compared to December 2020, when the third wave was beginning, there’s also likely to be more travelling this year – meaning there’s potentially many more empty homes which could be targeted by burglars.

The fact that yesterday marked one of the nation’s biggest Christmas shopping days is just another temptation for would-be burglars. 

Gardaí have once again issued guidance on how to best protect you and your home from thieves. 

Operation Thor, the nationwide anti-burglary garda initiative, is once again being rolled out. That operation is designed to tackle what gardaí described as “the anticipated increase in the number of burglaries and associated criminal activity that usually occur in winter months”.

Official crime statistics continue to show a reduction in burglary and related offences in 2020 (down by 5,810, or 34.7%) compared to 2019.

This downward trend continues in 2021, with official crime statistics for the second quarter of this year showing a reduction in the same offences, down by 5,349, or 37.2% to the second quarter of 2020. 
However, it must be noted that the nation was in the middle of various lockdowns throughout 2020, therefore creating a natural drop off in the number of burglaries. 
Gardaí have once again this year issued their advice to the public. 
The main tips from officers this year are: 
  • Turn on some lights
  • Use timer switches
  • Lock all doors and windows
  • Use an alarm
  • Store keys away from windows
  • Don’t keep large amounts of cash or jewellery in the house 

Defensive gardening

Another interesting aspect of the garda advice is something known as defensive gardening. 

This can consist of a barrier of dense prickly hedge running around your house.

According to gardaí, most would-be intruders will be deterred from seeking entry through this route

There are many plants suitable for such a role including : Holly; Berberis; Firethorn; Hawthorn; Blackthorn; Pernettya; Climbing; Rambling or Shrub Roses.

shutterstock_1716523072 Shutterstock / Helene D Shutterstock / Helene D / Helene D

Other tips like putting gravel in your driveway is another option, gardaí, said, as this causes noise for anyone walking on it.

More ideas include installing motion sensors in garden areas, and attaching garden furniture or ornaments to walls or decking, making it more difficult for thieves to make off with.

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    Mute Adrian
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    May 4th 2023, 3:58 PM

    One less thing to worry about.

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    Mute Gregson from the Block
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    May 4th 2023, 4:28 PM

    Jennifer Zamperelli. Jesus wept

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    Mute Madra
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    May 4th 2023, 5:14 PM

    @Gregson from the Block: I actually like her. I feel she would be a good person to take over.

    57
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    Mute GERARD KENNELLY
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    May 5th 2023, 3:50 AM

    @Madra:

    she does information videos for the windmill industry

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    Mute rhino
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    May 4th 2023, 4:16 PM

    Her first interview would be some fella talking about covid. She got some mileage out of it.

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    Mute William Slevin
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    May 4th 2023, 3:57 PM

    This starting to feel more like a poisoned chalice than a great opportunity lol

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    Mute ggg
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    May 4th 2023, 4:18 PM

    She obviously got pulled aside in the hallway at Montrose and told she is not being considered.

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    Mute Maire Morrison
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    May 4th 2023, 4:20 PM

    Dara ó Briain would be a good fix, imo

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    Mute Sean McCarthy
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    May 4th 2023, 5:33 PM

    @Maire Morrison: I find him a bit sanctimonious to be honest. So maybe you’re right actually

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    Mute GERARD KENNELLY
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    May 5th 2023, 3:52 AM

    @Maire Morrison:

    whatever happened to echo island ?

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    Mute Larry Rawson
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    May 4th 2023, 4:24 PM

    Sorry but the obvious choice is Brendan o Connor he has a proven track record in Rte and at 33/1 i would put my Fiver on Him.

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    Mute Paddy Kennedy
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    May 4th 2023, 5:43 PM

    @Larry Rawson: If he’s 33/1 and you put on a fiver that means you’ll lose a fiver right?

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    Mute alan
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    May 4th 2023, 6:00 PM

    @Paddy Kennedy: you could put an each way bet on him, and then you’d be in with well more than a shout of losing twice as much

    28
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    May 4th 2023, 5:12 PM

    Who actually cares?? I read the article for the comments rather than the content. The show is outdated and well past its bedtime and should be put to bed permanently.

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    Mute Ger Byrne
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    May 4th 2023, 4:13 PM

    Oliver Callan would be brilliant

    131
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    Mute GERARD KENNELLY
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    May 5th 2023, 3:53 AM

    @Ger Byrne:

    SF IRA supporter hosts the late late

    ah huh ..

    4
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    Mute Dave Phelan
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    May 5th 2023, 6:47 AM

    @GERARD KENNELLY: What planet are you on ?

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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    May 4th 2023, 4:26 PM

    A good news story, for once.

    124
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    Mute FixoUZLA
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    May 4th 2023, 5:32 PM

    Gay Byrne was young when he started on Late Late Show , maybe 24 years of age . If RTE continues with LLS , how about giving the gig to a young unknown person , not one of the tired old faces who are said to be in the running for the job .

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    Mute Rochelle Hart
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    May 4th 2023, 7:29 PM

    @FixoUZLA: That would make perfect sense but it’ll never happen in modern RTE.

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    Mute GERARD KENNELLY
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    May 5th 2023, 3:54 AM

    @Rochelle Hart:

    Eoghan McDermott will host the late late

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    Mute Paula Leane
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    May 4th 2023, 4:01 PM

    Ask a teacher, they do 3 hours live before & after lunch with a live audience who sometimes answer back..

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    Mute James Shanahan
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    May 4th 2023, 6:28 PM

    @Paula Leane: Work smart, not hard!!

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    Mute Aidan McKeon
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    May 4th 2023, 11:10 PM

    @Paula Leane: You obviously have no idea of what teachers do. If it is such a handy job, why aren’t you at it yourself? And why is there such a shortage of teachers if it so easy?

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    Mute GERARD KENNELLY
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    May 5th 2023, 3:55 AM

    @Paula Leane:

    brendan gleeson was a teacher before he went into acting

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    Mute Dave
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    May 4th 2023, 4:53 PM

    Ditch the poxy late late show, it’s as boring as dishwater & Trump’s speeches

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    Mute Josepi
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    May 4th 2023, 5:54 PM

    @Dave: You don’t have to watch it lol

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    Mute Stevie Doran
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    May 4th 2023, 4:32 PM

    Who are we left with? Bosco?

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    Mute UK Hurling Bloke
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    May 4th 2023, 4:41 PM

    @Stevie Doran: they might as well go with Dustin . Better candidate than Bosco and the other faves anyway

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    Mute Paul Harvey
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    May 4th 2023, 5:22 PM

    @Stevie Doran: Dustin

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    Mute Margaret Deacon
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    May 4th 2023, 3:59 PM

    She gave her own program to spend time with her family so didn’t make sense to go back to long hours again

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    May 4th 2023, 5:17 PM

    John Creedon,or Tom Dunne, both blessed with soft voices.

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    Mute ian cryan
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    May 4th 2023, 6:45 PM

    Time to put this show on the dead heap now. Its been on its knees for years now time to actually end it

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    Mute Roger Bond
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    May 4th 2023, 5:05 PM

    Good.

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    Mute ChadChaderson
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    May 4th 2023, 8:20 PM

    Can’t be many left in the RTE canten to choose from .

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    Mute Keth Tgi
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    May 4th 2023, 7:54 PM

    I think Oliver Callan would be perfect for the show as presenter. Funny, intelligent, sensitive and vibrant.

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    Mute Ordinary Bloke
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    May 4th 2023, 6:01 PM

    Like it or not, the much derided LLS is still the heartbeat of middle Ireland. John Creedon or Brendan O Connor or Baz (I don’t think he’d have the patience for it) for me. I’m struggling to come up with a female name that’d be a bit of craic. Angela Scanlon wouldn’t want it long term and as for Jennifer Z; she is a bit crude at times for me.

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    Mute Anthony Cosgrave
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    May 4th 2023, 9:31 PM

    RTE are about as relevant as whatisname yeah with whatsisface in thatseries I can’t remember.

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    Mute Michael Larkin
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    May 4th 2023, 5:32 PM

    Michael D Higgins

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    Mute Amanda Joyce
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    May 4th 2023, 5:57 PM

    Why are they picking Newsie’s for it… It’s supposed to be a topical Show is it not… And light entertainment.. What about either of the Seoighe Sisters and someone like Tommy Tiernan.. I don’t think it’s a Show for a Newsreader or Political Correspondent… Or what about giving a chance to Una Healy….

    20
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    Mute Tom's
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    May 5th 2023, 12:44 AM

    @Amanda Joyce: you’re having a laugh.You must be

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    Mute Michael Dowling
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    May 4th 2023, 5:35 PM

    Maybe they should have a few different presentaters taken from the existing staff. Just for variety.

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    Mute Fuji Hakayito
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    May 4th 2023, 6:25 PM

    @Michael Dowling: they don’t have the talent at hand.

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    Mute Angela Kirrane
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    May 4th 2023, 4:14 PM

    I think somebody like Rita Ann Higgins, somebody with a sense of humour and not too into themselves

    16
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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    May 4th 2023, 4:45 PM

    @Angela Kirrane: She was recently interviewed by Brendan O’Connor and spoke extensively about her holidays and her gall stones – sounded pretty much into herself.

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    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
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    May 4th 2023, 4:53 PM

    @KilkennyProud: That must have been galling

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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    May 4th 2023, 4:55 PM

    @Thomas O’ Donnell: It was painful alright.

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    Mute Gearóid MacEachaidh
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    May 4th 2023, 4:20 PM

    That’s a pity. I think she would have been the 2nd best candidate next to Miriam, now both are out of the reckoning.

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    Mute Keth Tgi
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    May 5th 2023, 2:06 AM

    Dougal…..from Father Ted.
    And just call it The Dougal Show. Ah go on go on!

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    Mute justme
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    May 4th 2023, 6:44 PM

    What about Jerry Maye – a nice presenter and respectful interviewer.

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    Mute Paulco
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    May 4th 2023, 7:43 PM

    Think outside the box. How about Conan O Brien? He would crush it! He could do rotating 2 shows in Ireland followed by 2 in NYC. That’s mad, Ted!

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    Mute Michael Larkin
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    May 4th 2023, 5:31 PM

    Mike D

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    Mute The Red Devil
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    May 5th 2023, 10:03 AM

    That just leaves me then …… I’m looking forward to it who will be our first guest

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    Mute Emmet Murphy
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    May 5th 2023, 9:09 AM

    Just bury the show, let it die in peace and give us a break from the Rte windbags.

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    Mute Monty Carlow
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    May 5th 2023, 9:25 PM

    Who would want it.?

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    Mute Spud Geshletter
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    May 5th 2023, 7:29 AM

    All she’s, any sport on the other side

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