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JACK FAGAN:THERE HAS been a surge in attempted break-ins at unoccupied homes and commercial buildings, according to a study by Netwatch, a property protection service. The findings come at a time when a record number of apartments, houses and commercial buildings are lying vacant because of the slowdown in sales and a fall off in demand from commercial tenants.

David Walsh, managing director of the Carlow-based company, said they had recorded a 35 per cent increase in attempted break-ins at vacant buildings in recent months. Because of the economic downturn they were now monitoring 60 per cent more unoccupied premises than three years ago.