Yesterday was the first day of European Focus Day, a movement made up of European Crime Prevention Network (ECUPN) members, to help stop domestic burglary by informing citizens on what they can do to prevent these invasive attacks. Funded by the Internal Security Fund of the European Union, the focus day is set to become a yearly event. The members include not only An Garda Síochána but a number of other EUCPN police services in Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, and Romania.

A few recommendations made by the Garda Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Graham Kavanagh were actions like making sure every window and door is locked, asking neighbors to check on the property when no one is home, having timers for outdoor and indoor lights in order to make the house look occupied, and halting deliveries when on vacation. The tag line for the campaign is “keep the surprises for your holiday and not when you return”, which they hope will bring more awareness to burglary prevention, particularly in the summer months when many people travel.  

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