Gardaí Launch Winter Phase of Operation Thor as Burglaries Drop 15%
Gardaí launch Operation Thor winter phase as burglaries drop 15% with 900 arrests made in six months.
An Garda Síochána has today launched the winter phase of Operation Thor, its annual anti-burglary operation targeting criminal gangs during the darker months.
The enhanced enforcement operation comes as new figures show residential burglaries fell by 15.5% during the summer phase of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with just over 2,300 incidents recorded between April and September.
The Southern Garda Region, which includes Cork and Munster, recorded 372 residential burglaries during the summer phase, equating to less than two burglaries per day across the region's rural counties.
Over 900 arrests for burglary-related activity were made during the last six months, with four suspected offenders arrested every day on average.
Since Operation Thor was first established in 2015, winter burglaries have fallen by 75%, bucking international trends that typically see a surge of up to 20% during darker months when burglars exploit reduced daylight hours.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland, GNDOCB: "While I am pleased to highlight that the level of reported residential burglaries continues to reduce, we in An Garda Síochána continue to recognise residential burglary as a particularly insidious crime which has a lasting impact on any person whose home is burgled."
The operation focuses on five main areas: crime prevention and protecting communities, crime investigation and operational activity, working in partnership with agencies, education and awareness programmes, and victim support.
Gardaí are urging homeowners to take simple precautions including turning on lights, using timer switches, locking all doors and windows, using house alarms, and storing keys away from windows.
The force has developed a Property App allowing people to index their valuables and report thefts directly to Gardaí. Property marking engagement days are held regularly by local community policing units, with information available on the Garda website.
The 'Lock Up Light Up' campaign encourages homeowners to protect their properties over winter when burglaries traditionally increase.
The winter phase of Operation Thor runs from 1 October until 31 March 2026, with the summer phase operating between 1 April and 30 September each year.
