Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
417. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of mobile phones reported stolen to Gardaí within DMR Region to-date in 2024; and the number and percentage of those reported stolen phones that have been returned to its original owner. [22366/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics.
The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released on 25 March 2024, providing statistics for Recorded Crime for Quarter 4 (Q4) 2023.
However, it is worth noting that crime statistics for Q1 of 2024 are not yet available and are due to be published by the CSO towards the end of June.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a search of the PULSE database was conducted for all objects of type 'Mobile Phone' marked as 'stolen' in connection with the below list of incident types reported in the DMR between 1 January 2024 and 31 March 2024.
• Robbery from the Person
• Burglary
• Theft (All types)
I am advised that a total of 1,109 such objects were identified linked to incidents. I am further advised that there were 57 objects of Mobile Phone type linked to Property Recovered incidents, which accounts for 5% of the mobile phones stolen.
I am informed that the Data provided is as was available on the PULSE system on the morning of 17 May 2024, and is operational and liable to change.
It is also worth noting that more than one mobile phone may be stolen/recovered in a single incident. The number of Property Recovered incidents may also increase over time as more investigations are completed.
