Seven Mayo homes hit in robbery spate

SEVEN houses widely scattered throughout Mayo were hit at the weekend by what is believed to be a “visiting” criminal gang.

Jewellery and cash appears to have been the main priority of the burglars who struck in places as far apart as Ballyhaunis and Louisburgh.

The other locations were Cloggernagh, Islandeady, Castlebar – where suspects were spotted – Fr. Angelus Park, Westport, Rathbawn Road, Castlebar, and Culmore, Newport, where two houses were targeted.

Gardai have appealed to the public for any information which might lead to the suspects being apprehended.

They have also emphasised the value in modern times of having burglar alarms fitted which, they maintain, would help in deterring such criminal activity. The first break-in at Fr. Angelus Park, Westport, occurred between 3 pm on Friday and 1 am on Saturday morning.

The burglars gained entry by breaking a rear door.

Also on Friday/Saturday – between 6.30 p.m. and 12.45 a.m. – a quantity of jewellery was stolen from a house at Bracklaghboy, Ballyhaunis.

On Saturday (between 1.50 p.m. and 2 p.m.) a house was broken into at Cloggernagh, Islandeady, and jewellery and cash was taken.

A suspect vehicle was spotted at the time in the area. The vehicle, believed to be a Volkswagen Golf, light blue in colour, had two occupants, one wearing gloves.

On Saturday morning, between 9.30 p.m. and midday, the rear window of a house at Rathbawn Road, Castlebar, was broken and he house entered.

Jewellery was reported taken. Two houses in the Culmore area of Newport were broken into on Saturday evening/ Sunday morning.

Jewellery and cash were taken in the first break-in. A small amount of cash was taken in the second incident.

In a further break-in, a house at Ballyhip, Louisburgh, was broken into through a rear window between 7.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday. A small amount of cash was taken.