New Garda figures show the already high rate of bike thefts in Dublin has exploded since the start of the year.
New figures for bike thefts across large parts of south Dublin, including the busy city centre, show the offence is growing at a faster rate than any other common crime type.
Data released by the Garda shows in the first two months of this year bike thefts have increased by a very significant 47 per cent in the force’s Dublin south central area.
That covers the areas across the city policed by Kevin St, Pearse St, Donnybrook, Kilmainham and Irishtown stations.
The number of bike thefts in the area reached 168 in January and February, compared to 114 during the same period last year.
The increase is the highest for any crime type in the Garda figures for the region, which have been released by the Green Party.
Advertisement
The data was contained in a Garda release to the joint policing committee for the area.
The most comprehensive figures supplied were for burglary, property crime and a range of thefts, including bicycle theft.
In the nine categories figures were provided for, only bike theft and burglary had increased, with the other forms of crime all reducing.
Burglaries were up by 30 per cent, some way off the 47 per cent increase for bike thefts.
These on-street secure hangars are currently being trialled in Dublin. The Green Party wants to see more of them rolled out to help prevent bike thefts.
Related News
Green Party representative for the Pembroke-South Dock area, Cllr Claire Byrne, voiced her concern that safe bike locking facilities were urgently required in Dublin following news of the spike in thefts this year.
"This unprecedented rise in bike theft is deeply concerning to anyone who owns a bicycle and to those who want to see an increase in cycling in the city,” she said.
“Research has shown that people are far less likely to invest in a new bike and continue cycling after a theft, so it's something we need to tackle urgently.
"It is clear that the problem is getting worse rather than better; 47 per cent is a huge jump by anyone's standard and this doesn’t include unreported thefts.
“No one would accept car crime to such an extent, so it is time for all stakeholders to roll up their sleeves and get to work on solutions to this problem.
“One way to improve this is to create more safe and secure bike parking facilities in the city.
“I would like to see Dublin City Council recreate the success of the Drury Street car park bike parking facility and open new monitored and secure locations, or to roll out more on-street bike lockers that are currently being trialled by Dublin City Beta Projects.”
That project was written about in recent weeks here on stickybottle: First new hangars to prevent bike theft finally arrive on Dublin streets.
Topics
