Police have arrested a man in his 20s in connection with a break-in and burglary in Carrickfergus on Saturday, where a property was ransacked and a dog was injured.

Sometime around 3 a.m., a burglar smashed a glass panel on the front door of a house on Castlemara Drive and ransacked it. The house was empty, but the burglar injured a dog left in the kitchen. The dog was later found in the back garden with visible abdominal injuries, possibly caused by physical trauma.

Upon investigation, a 21-year-old man was arrested and put under police custody. However, the latest update revealed that the man had been released with bail.

With the only suspect released, police are continuing the investigation. They are asking anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area around 3 a.m. on Saturday, October 7, or who has any information that could help the investigation to contact them on 101 quoting CW 911 08/1023.

Burglaries in Northern Ireland

According to Statista, there were 3,596 reported burglaries in Northern Ireland during the 2022/23 period. This figure decreased from the 3,833 incidents reported in the previous year.

While burglary remains a concern in Northern Ireland in 2023, the situation has improved compared to two decades ago. Reports show there were 18,531 cases during the initial reporting year of 2002/03.

The overall crime rate in Northern Ireland in 2022, including burglary, was 49 crimes per 1,000 people, with violence and sexual offences being the most common crimes. Belfast City is the most dangerous of Northern Ireland’s larger towns and cities, followed by Derry City, Craigavon, and Aghacommon.

In the past week, a few burglaries were reported across Northern Ireland, such as the aggravated burglary in the Cloneen Drive Area of Ballymoney and armed burglary in Dunluce Avenue of south Belfast.

In the past 30 days, there have also been, among many other cases, the knifepoint robbery and burglary in a north Belfast shop, the gunned burglary in Co Tyrone, and the burglary of a flat in east Belfast on Wednesday, where cash and jewellery were stolen.

There were also reported burglaries and robberies in connection with agricultural crimes, such as the report of 11 calves stolen from a field in Co. Derry.

According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), over the 12 months to June 30, 2023, theft accounted for 74 percent of agricultural crime, while burglary and robbery accounted for the remaining 26 percent. 

The highest levels of agricultural crime were recorded in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Fermanagh and Omagh, and Newry, Mourne and Down and Fermanagh districts.

Staying safe from burglars

Although there are no human casualties, this burglary case in Carrickfergus and other burglaries should remind you to secure your houses and properties.

PSNI has shared multiple tips on how to keep your houses and properties safe from burglaries and other crimes.

First, check your doors and windows for weaknesses. Install mortise locks on front and back doors, ground floor, or easily accessible windows. Consider adding barrel locks to doors for added security.

Second, invest in a burglar alarm system. Test the alarm regularly to ensure it works properly, especially before leaving your house unattended. Some alarm systems can directly contact the local authorities when triggered, which may be a good option.

Third, install a CCTV system and sufficient lighting around your home. When you are away, use timer switches to turn on some lights when it goes dark. This will help to record clear footage of any intruders and deter opportunists who may be able to tell that you are not home.

Hiring security agencies like Marengo can also help further enhance your house’s safety. They will conduct assessments, make plans, and execute suitable solutions personally tailored to your homes or properties.