Gardai tackling organised crime gangs in Leitrim

Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken, Sligo-Leitrim Division, told the latest meeting of the Co Leitrim Joint Policing Committee (JPC) that a lot of work has been carried out by An Garda Síochána this year in relation to tackling organised crime and drugs in Co Leitrim.
Chief Supt Glacken revealed searches were carried in relation to 30 burglaries in Leitrim that took place this year and three gangs were discovered to be active in the county in the theft of high end tools.
He said that on February 28 last a number of premises in Dublin and Galway were searched in relation to a number of travelling criminal gangs which “we believe were engaged in the wholescale theft of high end tools and we have identified three gangs who have been active in Leitrim” with that investigation still underway.
In relation to burglaries, he said a number of searches were carried out in Dublin and Kildare on November 15 “involving one particular gang who we suspect were involved in burglaries that took place in February and May this year and around 30 of those burglaries occurred in Leitrim.”
He said that burglary figures are up 27% from 28 to 37 foe the year to date for 2023, in comparison to the same period last year.
Thefts from multi-purpose vehicles are down 44% from 10 this year to 18 last year while theft from other property is down 27% from 44 to 36.
Assault causing harm figures were also down going from 35 to 28 this year (a decrease of 25%) and minor assault incidents decreased by 9% from 58 to 53.

Public order offences are well down (a decrease of 59%) from 116 last year to 69 for 2023 while figures for the possession of drugs for sale or supply were down by six from 12 to five.
Chief Supt Glacken also added that “there have been three fatal accidents in the county this year so far.”

Operation Thor
Having observed an increase in burglaries back in September and October 2017, An Garda Síochána prepared an operational plan for a Winter Phase of Operation Thor, involving the undertaking of targeted enforcement and preventative activity, designed to prevent potential burglars from exploiting the reduced hours of daylight.
Chief Supt. Glacken said: “It takes place from November to March every year and a young male in Leitrim was charged with 17 offences on November 8. These offences took place between May and August and that person is currently in prison.”
The Chief Supt outlined other crime statistics to the meeting.
In relation to circuit court outcomes this year, a 43 year-old male who carried out a serious assault on another person in Carrick-on-Shannon in February, he said, “that matter was adjourned for sentencing and another male pleaded guilty to harassment" with this case also adjourned for sentencing.
He also noted as part of the Joint Agency Task Force (JATF), that the Sligo-Leitrim Division conducted a number of operations along border counties on October 16, with a focus on rural crime and human trafficking.