A victim support service believes a new scheme for serial burglars has huge potential if it deals with any addictions the repeat offender may have.
The pilot scheme is already offering some of south Dublin’s most prolific burglars the chance to turn over a new leaf.
Of all the calls the Crime Victims Helpline has taken this year, 14pc were from people who’d been burgled.
And the service’s national co-ordinator Naomi Gould says the aftermath can leave a person feeling unsafe and vulnerable in their own home.
The problem was so bad across Dublin in 2012 that Gardai put OPERATION ACER in place.
It’s resulted in over 5,000 arrests but the same faces keep coming before the courts so a new pilot scheme called OPERATION OPT IN ACER, has been rolled out in Tallaght and Rathfarnham to try and stop serial burglars from re-offending.
The Crime Victims Helpline is a confidential and free service so if you’ve been the victim of a burglary, or any other crime, you can call it on 116 006.
An email and text service is also available and full details can be found on its website.
