Vigilance calls after pensioner robbed

Vigilance calls after pensioner robbed

CALLS have been made for residents to keep an eye out for older members of the community, following an attempted burglary in the town at the weekend.

Two men forced entry to a pensioner's house at Manor Drive in Taghnevan on Saturday night.

However, the elderly occupant, believed to be in his 80s, confronted the pair and they ran off.

Sinn Fein councillor Maurice Magill described the crime as "despicable".

"This was a cowardly attack on a vulnerable member of our community, said Mr Magill, "and would ask people living close by, or who regularly pass by this development, to keep an eye open for any suspicious activity and to immediately report it to the PSNI."

The councillor pointed out that the thieves made their effort to rob the pensioner at a time when most of the residents of Manor Drive would be at mass in nearby St Paul's Church.

He continued: "This type of crime was one of the worst kinds of theft that it is possible to commit as it not only deprived the victim of their goods, it violated their privacy and the security of their home.

"This was a despicable crime and one which was known about by more than the actual thieves.

"Anyone who has any information regarding this theft should immediately pass it on to the authorities before someone else falls foul of these selfish individuals."

The two men involved were both wearing baseball caps at the time of the break-in, and are described as being approximately 5'10" tall, aged in their 30s, of stocky build, and spoke with foreign accents.

Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the men entering or leaving the house to contact them on 0845 600 8000.

Information about crime can also be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Related topics: