Robbers steal from charities for the poor

St Vincent de Paul and the Drumgor Detached Youth Work Project both based at Moyraverty were broken into, vandalised and had property stolen on Monday night.

Robbers stole lawnmowers and strimmers from St Vincent de Paul, equipment to help the elderly and disadvantaged tidy their gardens.

And thieves stolen thousands of pounds of equipment from DDYWP, laptops, monitors and printers for the organisation which helps combat the social exclusionof youths in the Craigavon area.

“They are just stealing from their own community,” said a spokesperson for SVP.

On Tuesday morning staff at St Vincent de Paul discovered their property at Moyraverty shops had been forced open and the lawnmowers and strimmers just bought in July had been stolen.

One staff members said: “They are used by the elderly, single parent families and those who don’t have time to do their own gardening for a nominal fee.

“They are there for the community.

“They are sinking to a new low and depriving the local community of a valuable service,” he said.

Joanne Shortall of DDYWP said that staff discovered the centre at Moyraverty had been broken into and thousands of pounds worth of equipment stolen or vandalised.

“It’s an attack on the community and an attack on the young people of the community,” she said.

Sergeant Alwyn Peters, Brownlow Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This centre provides an invaluable service to the local community and it is deeply disappointing that thieves have targeted it in this way. Essentially, those responsible have stripped the community of valuable resources.

“We are currently conducting a number of enquiries. CSI have examined the scene and we have viewed cctv.

Meanwhile police said that following a series of burglaries in the Taghnevan area, two local men have been arrested and are currently assisting Lurgan Police with their enquiries. “A quantity of suspected property believed to be linked to these burglaries has also been recovered. Police would like to thank the local community for their assistance in apprehending these males,” said a spokesperson.

And Brownlow police arrested and charged two men following a burglary at a house in Hillcrest Mews during the early hours of Thursday, 14 November.

Police were called to the area following a report of windows being broken and detained two males inside the property.

A 16 year old man was charged with burglary and criminal damage and appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 15 November. An 18 year old man was charged with burglary and will appear before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 6 December.

Sgt Alwyn Peters, Brownlow NPT, said: “We were able to apprehend two offenders due to a timely report of suspicious activity. We continually ask the community for their support and this shows how successul we can be at tackling crime when we work in partnership.”