THERE has been a 30% increase in burglaries in Dublin this month, with an average of 31 break-ins carried out every day in October.

Garda figures obtained by the Sunday Tribune showed there were 846 burglaries in Dublin in the first 27 days of October, an average of 31.4 break-ins a day.

By comparison, there was an average of 769 burglaries per month in Dublin during July, August and September. These figures show there was a 30% increase in house robberies in October compared to the previous three months.

The figures from July to September were released by the Central Statistics Office last week, and prompted calls for adequate garda resources to address the rising number of burglaries.

It is understood there was a big rise in burglaries in October across south Dublin, with Rathfarnham being identified as a particular blackspot. In August, there were 50 burglaries in this area alone.

Parts of Dublin's north and south city centre have also seen a big increase but the garda area which covers north Dublin has actually seen a drop.

The figures from October show that Fridays are by far the most popular day for burglars to strike. On Friday 1 October, 37 break-ins took place in Dublin while 42 were recorded the following Friday.

There were 38 break-ins on Friday 15 October while 60 burglaries were carried out on Friday 22 October.

Sources said the rise in break-ins around Dublin was a cause for major concern and pointed to a lack of garda overtime as part of the reason for the massive increase. Gardaí in Dublin have expressed concern that as Christmas approaches, the number of burglaries will increase even further.

Fine Gael's justice spokesman Alan Shatter said the problem needed to be urgently addressed.

"The upsurge in burglaries is very alarming. The statistics show there is widespread concern among communities and people don't feel safe in their own homes," he said.

"It is alarming that there has been such a notable increase in October compared to the previous three months.

"It is unusual that there would be such a jump. It's possible that as we're getting into darker evening, more homes are being targeted."