It's claimed that a significant number of break-ins in County Sligo go underreported.

It comes as new statistics show that nationally, just over 3 thousand burglaries took place in the winter - which is a 19 percent drop on the same period 12 months ago.

However, it's fallen from over 12 thousand in 2015, which was when Operation Thor launched.

Cllr Michael Clarke is concerned that while the data seems positive, it could be used to further reduce the number of Gardai stationed in rural areas: