Warning follows burglary

Children’s play area Funky Monkey’s was broken into in the early hours of Monday morning and a sum of cash was stolen.

It is the latest in a spate of well-organised burglaries in Lurgan over the past number of weeks.

The owner of the Kitchen Hill premises urged other business people in the town to take extra caution.

He said: “We believe two men were involved. They broke in through the emergency doors and used an angle grinder to gain access to our safe. It seems to be a well planned and well organised crime."

He added: “This shows the need for everybody to be that little bit more careful. We’re not the only ones in the town that this has happened to.”

Sinn Fin councillor Mairead O’Dowd said the robberies are like a “stealth tax”.

She said: “Over the past few weeks several businesses have been broken into late at night and the method used suggests that the same gang may be responsible for the robberies, which have netted the thieves a substantial sum of money.”

Cllr O’Dowd drew attention to the reality that commercial robbery is eventually paid for by members of the public.

She said: “At the end of the day we all pay the cost of these thefts through increased insurance premiums and higher prices and they also cost dearly in terms of police time. In reality the thieves are imposing a stealth tax on the rest of us every time they commit a crime and it is in all of our interests to bring an end to this activity. If you notice anything suspicious around a business property report it immediately and if you hear an alarm going off don’t assume that the owners of the property are aware of it or are in a position to check it out. Notify the PSNI and help to keep costs down for all of us.”

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the Kitchen Hill area in the early hours of Monday morning and may have noticed any suspicious activity to contact them at Lurgan on 0845 600 8000.

Information can also be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.