Burglary Statistics Ireland 2026: What the Latest CSO Data Shows

National Picture: A 5% Rise in Q2 2026

Between April and June 2026, 2,119 burglaries were recorded nationwide, 104 more than the 2,015 recorded in Q2 2025 (CSO, Recorded Crime Q2 2026). This follows Q1 2026, which was also up year on year (+2%), meaning two consecutive quarters have now come in higher than a year earlier.

That said, the longer-term trend remains downward. Over the 12 months to the end of June 2026, Burglary & Related offences fell 6%, from 9,165 to 8,587 (CSO Table 2.1). Quarterly figures can be volatile small local counts, seasonal patterns, and the timing of Garda operations all cause swings from one quarter to the next. The divisional breakdown below shows just how much the national average can obscure.

Regional Breakdown: Where Burglaries Rose and Fell in Q2 2026

The Q2 2026 figures vary dramatically by Garda division. Fourteen of 21 divisions recorded an increase, while seven saw a decrease. The tables below highlight the most significant movements.

Divisions With the Biggest Increases (by Number of Incidents)

Divisions Where Burglaries Fell

The largest increases by volume are concentrated in Munster and the Mid-West. Cork City recorded 62 more burglaries than a year earlier, Clare / Tipperary saw 59 more, and Limerick added 34. These are substantial urban and semi-urban divisions, so the Q2 picture is not simply a rural story, it is more accurately described as a rise outside Dublin.

Kerry is a useful reminder of how much quarterly data can swing. It was the biggest riser in Q1 2026, up 142% (24 to 58), yet in Q2 it fell 26% (43 to 32). One quarter is not a trend.

Six of the 14 divisions that recorded increases saw rises of 16 incidents or fewer. Sligo / Leitrim division was up 26%, but that represents just 6 additional incidents (23 to 29). Galway rose 17% on 10 extra incidents (59 to 69). Context matters when the base numbers are small.

Dublin and Cork: Two Cities Moving in Opposite Directions

Dublin's six divisions recorded 858 burglaries in Q2 2026, down 152 from the same quarter a year earlier. The sharpest falls came in DMR East (−44%, from 122 to 68) and DMR South Central (−30%, from 236 to 165). Two Dublin divisions did rise DMR West increased 13% (152 to 171) and DMR North edged up 4% (198 to 206), but the overall Dublin picture is one of significant decline.

Cork moved in the opposite direction. Cork City and County combined recorded 183 burglaries, up 78% from 103 in Q2 2025 (CSO, Recorded Crime Q2 2026). Cork City nearly doubled, rising from 68 to 130.

Outside Dublin, 15 divisions collectively recorded 1,261 burglaries, a 25% increase on the 1,005 recorded a year earlier. The gap between Dublin and the rest of the country is the defining feature of the Q2 figures.

Burglaries in 2026 So Far: The First Half of the Year

A total of 4,283 burglaries were recorded across Ireland in January to June 2026, up 3.5% or 146 more incidents compared with 4,137 in the first half of 2025 (CSO, Recorded Crime Q2 2026). Q1 2026 accounted for 2,164 of those (+2% year on year), while Q2 2026 added 2,119 (+5%).

Q1 2026: January to March

The first quarter of 2026 recorded 2,164 burglaries nationally, a 2% increase on the 2,122 recorded in Q1 2025. Q1 figures have been updated to the latest CSO extract (1 September 2026).

Notable Q1 movements included Kerry, which rose 142% (24 to 58), Meath / Westmeath up 42% (96 to 136), and Clare / Tipperary up 41% (95 to 134). Several divisions fell: Wexford / Wicklow dropped 31% (149 to 103), DMR South declined 27% (157 to 114), and Kildare / Carlow fell 22% (148 to 116).

For homeowners in rural areas or on farms, the regional variation underlines why local figures matter more than the national headline.

Is Burglary Risk Higher Over the Winter?

Yes. In every year from 2015 to 2025, the quarter with the most recorded burglaries in Ireland was either October to December or January to March the months with the shortest days (CSO PxStat CJQ06). Gardaí warned on 1 October 2026 that burglaries could rise by up to 20% over the winter months (An Garda Síochána, Operation Thor winter phase, 1 October 2026).

Garda data from recent winter phases shows that residential burglaries are most likely between 4pm and 8am, and that around one in four entries (23.9%) were through an unsecured door.

Five practical steps can reduce your risk during the winter months:

• Lock and set your alarm every time you go out, even briefly. Unsecured doors accounted for almost one in four winter burglaries according to Garda figures.
• Make the house look occupied once it gets dark. Put lamps on timers or use the PhoneWatch smart plug so lights come on when the house is empty.
• Keep jewellery, cash, and car keys out of sight of windows and letterboxes.
• Lock sheds and side gates. Tools left out can be used to force a door or window.
• Check your alarm before Christmas. Make sure every sensor is working and your keyholder details are current before you travel.

What the CSO Figures Mean for Irish Homeowners

Three things stand out from the Q2 2026 data.

Local variation matters more than the national figure. A 5% national rise includes divisions that fell 44% and others that nearly doubled. Checking the figures for your own Garda division gives a far more useful picture than the headline number. The full divisional table is below. It’s important to constantly review your home security measures to ensure your home is fully protected.

One quarter is not a trend. Kerry went from the largest percentage rise in Q1 to a 26% fall in Q2. Two quarters of increases follow a period in which burglaries fell substantially. The 12-month trend is still down 6%.

The fundamentals of protection do not change. Locked doors, working alarms, and visible signs of occupancy remain the most reliable deterrents regardless of what the quarterly figures show. When an alarm is professionally monitored, someone responds to a signal even when you are asleep, at work, or away. PhoneWatch's Alarm Receiving Centre responds to alarm signals in an average of 15 seconds, and PhoneWatch protects over 120,000 Irish homes.

Concerned about burglaries in your area? Get a free quote for a PhoneWatch monitored alarm.

Burglary Statistics Ireland 2025: The Full-Year Picture

The CSO recorded 8,469 burglaries in Ireland in 2025, a 13% decrease from the 9,747 recorded in 2024 (CSO PxStat CJQ06; the 2024 total has been revised from 9,748). It was a broadly positive year: 22 of the 28 Garda divisions (before divisions were merged into 21 divisions) in place at the time recorded a decrease, five increased, and Cork City was essentially flat (292 to 293).

The largest decreases by percentage were in Roscommon / Longford (−62%, from 263 to 101), Mayo (−44%, from 118 to 66), Limerick (−38%, from 579 to 357), and Sligo / Leitrim (−38%, from 144 to 89).

Five divisions recorded increases: DMR Eastern rose 23% (398 to 490), Wexford was up 18% (295 to 347), Wicklow increased 17% (343 to 400), Kerry edged up 6% (141 to 150), and DMR Western rose 5% (670 to 703).

Note: 2025 figures use the previous 28-division Garda structure, while 2026 figures use the new 21-division model. Divisions cannot be compared directly across the two years.

For longer-term context on how these figures fit into Ireland's broader crime statistics over the last decade, see our separate analysis.

Full Divisional Table: Q2 2025 vs Q2 2026

About These Figures

Figures are recorded crime incidents of Burglary & Related offences published by the Central Statistics Office in Recorded Crime Q2 2026 (1 October 2026), using the New Garda Operating Model of 21 Garda divisions (CSO table CJQ10). National totals on this page are the sum of the 21 divisions. The CSO's national offence group table reports a slightly higher total (2,182 for Q2 2026), as it uses a different basis. CSO figures may be revised in later releases.