A man with a lengthy criminal record, including 26 previous burglary convictions, was sentenced on Tuesday for breaking into a home in west Belfast.

The 39-year-old father of three, identified as Damien Joseph Power, was handed a 32-month sentence by Judge Donna McColgan KC, with 12 months to be served in custody and 20 months on licence. 

The burglary occurred on Ard Na Va Road. A homeowner discovered his house had been burgled upon returning home from work at 2 AM on May 8, 2023. He noticed the lights were on and the back door ajar and heard movement upstairs. This prompted him to exit the property and contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Officers arrived not long after and apprehended Power at the scene. He immediately surrendered several items, including a mobile phone, that he had taken from the house. A following search revealed additional stolen items, such as cash and alcohol.

During an interview, Power acknowledged being arrested but could not remember why, attributing his memory loss to drug use.

The Judge opted for an extended probation period instead of a harsher sentence due to Power’s complex background, including a traumatic childhood, mental health struggles, and substance abuse. This decision aimed to address Power’s underlying issues and reduce the likelihood of re-offending.

“I hope this is the turning point for you,” said the judge.

Previous crimes

One of Power’s criminal records dates back to eight years ago. He pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to burgling a house and stealing two cars on Mountainhill Road in north Belfast in the early hours of May 18, 2014. He received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and causing damage, and driving without insurance.

Power’s criminal record continued in 2017, with his involvement in two separate burglaries. He and an accomplice targeted an elderly couple in south Belfast, marking his third burglary that year. Before this, he had committed burglaries at Cleaver Avenue in Malone and Cleaver Park.

He was not successful in his last act that year, as police soon arrived and arrested Power. His accomplice, however, managed to evade capture.

Upon searching Power, police uncovered stolen items, including a pair of Instonian cufflinks, £50 in cash, and a quantity of Tramadol tablets.

By then, Power had accumulated a lengthy criminal record, with 23 prior convictions for burglary, robbery, theft, and handling stolen goods. He was also still serving a licence period from his 2015 arrest when he committed the 2017 offences.

Staying safe from burglary

According to CrimeRate, in 2023, Belfast City’s crime rate was 125 percent higher than Northern Ireland’s. It is also 34 percent higher than the overall figure for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

December 2022 was particularly a bad month, as Belfast City experienced a surge in burglary incidents. With 122 burglaries recorded that month, the city’s burglary rate reached 0.44 per 1,000 residents.

To keep your home safe, inspect and secure all doors and windows – make sure they are locked when you are away or asleep. Install mortise locks on front and back doors, as well as easily accessible windows. For extra protection, use barrel locks at the top and bottom of doors.

A security system is crucial, so consider installing one if you don’t have it. You can also combine it with timer switches to illuminate lights when it gets dark for added security, especially when you’re not at home.

Always park your car inside of your garage if you have one. With advancements in car security, thieves may target homes to steal keys, so keep them in a secure, inconspicuous location. 

You can also consult security companies like Marengo if you require tailored security plans for your home. They can plan optimal security for your home, help you respond to security incidents, and provide on-site guards if necessary.