Over 700 thefts recorded in Louth/Cavan/Monaghan division in Q1

More than 700 theft offences were recorded across the Louth/Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division during the first three months of 2026, with shoplifting accounting for almost two-thirds of all theft incidents, according to the latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The figures, covering January to March 2026, show that theft and related offences remained the most common crime category in the division, with 719 incidents recorded. This represents a rise compared with the same period in 2025, when 692 theft and related offences were recorded.

Regarding the 2026 theft figures, there were 449 incidents involving theft from shops.

Road and traffic offences were the second-largest category during the first quarter of 2026, with 547 incidents recorded. This compares with a figure of 474 recorded in the first quarter of 2025.

The latest figures included 158 insurance-related offences, 56 vehicle tax or registration offences and 269 other road traffic offences. Gardaí also recorded 103 incidents involving motorists driving while intoxicated by alcohol and/or drugs, compared with 114 such incidents in Q1 2025. Speeding offences also remained high, with 185 recorded in 2026 compared with 225 in the same quarter of 2025.

Public order offences remained a major category in 2026, with 391 incidents recorded. Disorderly conduct incidents were 359 and there were 22 trespass offences.

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There were 379 dangerous or negligent acts recorded during the three-month period, compared with 474 in Q1 2025. The 2026 figures included one case of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, one endangerment offence involving potential serious harm or death, and one child neglect or cruelty offence.

Violent crime also featured prominently in the latest statistics. Gardaí recorded 364 incidents involving attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassment and related offences. This compares with 381 incidents recorded in the same category in Q1 2025.

The 2026 figures included 199 other assaults, 85 assaults causing harm, 47 threats to kill or cause serious harm and 33 harassment offences. In Q1 2025, the division recorded 212 other assaults, 100 assaults causing harm, 31 threats to kill or cause serious harm and 35 harassment offences.

A total of 301 criminal damage and environmental offences were recorded during Q1 2026, comprising 263 criminal damage incidents and 38 arson offences.

Burglary remained a significant issue, with 137 incidents reported. This was lower than the 160 burglary and related offences recorded in Louth/Cavan/Monaghan during the first quarter of 2025. The latest figures included three aggravated burglaries and 133 not aggravated burglaries.

Drug-related crime also remained prevalent, with 148 controlled drug offences recorded. Of these, 89 related to possession for personal use and 56 involved possession with intent to sell or supply.

Sexual offences showed a marked fall compared with the same period in 2025. There were 34 recorded sexual offences in Q1 2026, including 32 rape and sexual assault offences, compared with 67 sexual offences recorded in Q1 2025, of which 57 were rape and sexual assault offences.

The division recorded no homicides, murders or manslaughters during the first quarter of 2026. This compares with two homicide-related offences recorded in Q1 2025, both classified as murder.

Other figures for the quarter included 21 robbery, extortion and hijacking offences, compared with 19 in Q1 2025, along with 34 weapons and explosives offences and 131 offences against government, justice procedures and the organisation of crime, the majority relating to breaches of court orders.

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Nationally, the CSO reported that recorded crime fell in six of the 15 main offence groups in the year to the end of the first quarter of 2026 when compared with the same period in 2025. The largest decreases were seen in homicide-related offences, sexual offences, burglary and robbery.

However, dangerous or negligent acts and weapons offences increased nationally, while several other offence groups recorded smaller rises.

The CSO cautioned that the figures relate only to crimes reported to An Garda Síochána and recorded on the PULSE system. It noted that some offences, particularly sexual offences, fraud and assaults, may be under-reported, meaning the statistics do not represent the full extent of crime in the community.