Six homes are targeted by burglars along border

DETECTIVES are investigating a spate of burglaries close to the border in south Armagh at the weekend.

Six burglaries were reported in the space of just a few hours on Saturday night.

Four of the properties were on Father McFadden Terrace in Crossmaglen, another was in St Monina Park and a sixth on the Drumintee Road in Killeavy.

It’s understood that the properties targeted were unoccupied at the time.

Jewellery and other valuables were stolen, according to police.

Local councillor Roisin Mulgrew told the Belfast Telegraph that the burglaries seemed to be opportunistic, carried out by a criminal gang who drove around the area at dusk looking for houses that were unlit, and therefore probably empty.

“We’re calling on people to be vigilant, to check their home security, to check on vulnerable neighbours and to take sensible precautions against these burglars,” she said.

Sinn Fein MLA Megan Fearon hit out at the thieves. “It is disappointing to hear of this recent spate of criminal activity in the south Armagh area,” she said.

“Those who enter people’s homes to rob and destroy care nothing about the impact their actions have on the victims of their anti-community crimes. “I urge all to be extra vigilant. “Those who carry out these attacks on our communities need to be apprehended and face the full rigours of the law.”

Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact them on 101.