It also shows that more than three-quarters of the Irish population (77%) feel that they are more at risk from theft in recessionary times.

A further 40% feel more at risk from violent crime and 71% of the population believe that crime as a whole has increased in Ireland since the recession officially began in 2008.

Now in its ninth year of publication, the 2009 Burglary Report revealed a heightened awareness of security issues and a strong desire to protect what we already have.

68% of respondents claimed to have become more security conscious as a result of the recession. Home security was found to be the issue of greatest concern to Irish people, with 46% citing home security / invasion as their primary security worry, followed by bank / ATM security (21%).

Donegal recorded a 94.1% increase in the incidence of burglary. This represents 3.3% of burglaries in the counties outside Dublin. The report – which tracked burglaries between July 2008 and June 2009 - also revealed that August was the most targeted month for burglaries in Donegal.

When asked what they would most seek to protect in the case of burglary, 73% named their 'loved ones' as their primary concern, followed by 'themselves' (55%). Private documents and family photos were also high on the list of things which homeowners would most seek to protect.

Perhaps they are right to worry, as for the third year running, a staggering eight out of ten burglaries took place while their occupants are at home, suggesting that burglars are not deterred by home occupancy when selecting their target and that there are greater things at risk than personal possessions.

Approximately £72 million worth of goods were stolen from Irish residential households in the period July 2008 to June 2009, which equates to an average value of £3,011 per home burgled.