Crime in 2024: Burglaries, shoplifting and sexual offences increase as other crime drops

Many forms of serious crime declined last year, although theft, sexual offences and threats to kill increased, according to official data from the Central Statistics Office.

New figures for 2024 show recorded homicide, robbery and drug crimes declined by 13 per cent, 10 per cent and 7 per cent respectively, compared to 2023. However, the number of cases of drugs being imported has surged by 60 per cent.

There was also an increase of 5 per cent in weapons and explosive offences, while the number of sexual offences increased by 8 per cent.

There were 77 recorded incidents of homicide and related offences in 2024, down 13 per cent from 2023. Decreases in incidents of dangerous driving leading to death (down 28 per cent) accounted for most of the change over the year.

There were 38 murders last year, an increase of three on 2023, though the murder rate was still far behind its peak in the modern era: 78 murders in 2007.

The number of sexual crimes reported to the Garda increased by 8 per cent last year to 3,709 crimes, including a 3 per cent increase in rapes to 964 cases.

Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences fell by 265 incidents or 10 per cent over the year. This was driven mainly by a fall in incidents of blackmail or extortion (down by 24 per cent).

There was an increase of 182 incidents of burglary compared to 2023, driven by an increase of 151 burglaries where there was no aggravation.

Theft offences increased by 3 per cent in 2024, with nearly 2,000 additional incidents of shop theft, a 6 per cent rise compared to 2023.

Almost eight in ten (78 per cent) of all additional theft offences last year were linked to shoplifting. Overall, theft from shops accounted for 44 per cent of all theft-related offences in 2024.

The figures also show an increase in motor theft with 7,623 offence reported last year, up 4 per cent on 2023 and making it the worst year for motor theft in Ireland in more than a decade. 

The main hotspots for motor theft incidents last year were Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Dublin made up a sizeable proportion with 4,305 vehicles stolen, followed by 851 in Cork and 502 in Limerick.

Nikki Murran, director of retail at Excel Recruitment, said the crime data for 2024 shows shop owners are being hit harder than ever.

"Today’s figures confirm what retailers across Ireland already know – shoplifting is spiralling out of control and crippling Irish businesses," she said.

"Theft isn’t just about lost stock – it leads to higher security costs, impacts staff safety, and ultimately drives up prices for honest customers. Small businesses, in particular, are feeling the strain, as they lack the resources to absorb these losses."

"Retailers need stronger protections, better enforcement, and real consequences for repeat offenders. Without urgent action, many businesses will be forced to rethink how they operate or if they can stay open at all."