A Roscommon native is encouraging homeowners to use technology to help prevent crime.
It comes as recent figures from the Central Statistics Office and Phonewatch showed that burglaries in the Roscommon area increased by 47% between 2021 and 2022.
Tom Coppinger, Regional Development Officer with Active Retirement Ireland, says that covid-19 lockdowns didn't deter burglars.
The Ballaghaderreen native also says that technology can be used as a prevention tool, especially in rural areas.
"The fact that people were at home more didn't help, but it didn't deter burglars. They were out there. Active Retirement Ireland has a programme at the moment with a view to encourage people to go towards this high tech and training them in the use of technology so we're hoping that a lot of people will take that up".
