Thieves target parked vehicles outside Draperstown churches

It follows a recent theft from a car parked adjacent to St Columba Church, Straw and nearby Gaelscoil na Speiríní said: "I again ask everyone living in the parish of Ballinascreen to be vigilant in relation to an opportunist thief or thieves who appear to be operating within our parish and targeting vehicles when parked adjacent to local churches," he said.

"Given that we are now moving into the dark evenings of autumn/winter, everyone needs to remember that we should not make it easy for thieves by leaving valuables in vehicles when parking on the occasion of attending mass or other church services taking place in our community.

"We know from the events of recent years that thieves do not discriminate on the basis of religious belief as there were incidents outside our different churches."