In both incidents, a masked man armed with a handgun came to the door of the houses in Groarty Close and threatened the occupants, including an elderly couple.

Sinn Féin Councillor for the area, Billy Page said the families affected have been left "with nightmares" after the incidents. "It started last Thursday around 10.30pm when a masked man with a hood over his head knocked on a woman's door, pointed a gun at her, cocked it and told her to get inside. The woman slammed the door and he ran off but it was a very frightening experience for her.

"The following night the same thing happened at a pensioner's house when a masked man armed with a gun called at the door. Again the householder closed the door on him but they later saw someone in their back garden and believe it was the same man. Obviously this has left them very shaken and scared," he said.

Colr. Page also said people in the area believe drug addicts may be behind the incidents. "It has been suggested to me that there are a number of people in the area with serious drug problems and may be trying to rob people to get money to buy drugs. The fact that a gun was used in these attempted robberies, whether it is real or intimidation, makes it more frightening. No one expects to open their front door to have a gun pointed in their face," he said.

Colr. Page called for CCTV cameras to be installed in pensioners homes to make them feel safe. "The Peace and Reconciliation Group and the PSNI have a scheme where they install CCTV cameras free of charge in elderly people's homes and I would like to see them being put into homes in Ballymagroarty to give these people peace of mind," he said.

The PSNI said they are "investigating a report that a man was seen acting suspiciously around a house in Groarty Close" on Sunday 28th September and are aware of another incident in the area last Friday and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them on 0845 600 8000.