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Burglars and conmen hawkers
29.09.11
PEOPLE in Inishowen are
again feeling stressed and vulnerable in their own
homes because of callous thieves out to make a quick
buck.
Householders in the Burt area were among the latest
victims of creeper burglars as well as a bogus
travelling salesman gaining entry to houses on the
pretence of selling clothes.
One woman yesterday described how she managed to
avoid getting conned after the bogus hawker called
to her home.
Meanwhile, the latest attacks prompted Burt priest,
Fr Gerard Sweeney, to make an appeal from the pulpit
at weekend Masses. He urged people in the community
to look out for each other after an elderly woman
living alone at Inch Level became the latest victim
of the conman hawker last Saturday morning.
The man is described as "Asian", in his 40s, with
dark curly hair. He is said to be driving a dark red
or maroon-coloured car with a suitcase in the back
seat.
In a separate incident, Garda forensic officers
yesterday examined the scene of a burglary at Skeoge
cottages in Burt.
Homeowner, Bob Doherty, said the culprits gained
entry to his house by putting a brick through a
window to the rear of the property. The house was
unoccupied at the time of the raid.
"Thankfully they didn't ransack the house and they
didn't take anything other than a couple of bottles
of alcohol. The cost to fix the window is somewhere
around €150 to €200 but it's the stress of the whole
thing, it's very upsetting," said Mr Doherty.
Annie Whoriskey who lives in the Burnfoot area,
realised she had had a lucky escape from the hawker
conman when she heard what had happened to the woman
at Inch Level.
"A man with the same description called to my house
about a week before that. I was out gardening and he
reversed his car in my gate. I walked down to see
who it was and he said he was selling but he didn't
say what. He had a suitcase in the back seat.
"I told him I wasn't interested and he said
something like 'most people will have a look' but I
said 'no, I'm not interested' and with that he left. |
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"I feel relieved now
that I was outside when he called and he didn't get
near the house," she added. Local councillor, John
Ryan, yesterday said he was “alarmed” at the ongoing
spate of burglaries. “I would urge people keep their
properties locked at all times whether they are in
our out and not to open the door to anyone unless
they are 100% sure who they are,” said Cllr Ryan. He
also expressed concern at proposals to close a
number of rural Garda stations saying border areas
of Inishowen were more vulnerable to crime. |
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Councillor John Ryan. |
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Gardai are following a
definite line of inquiry in relation to the Inch
Level incident during which a sum of money was
taken. Anyone with information is asked to contact
Buncrana Garda Station on 07493 20540. |
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