Traders in Strabane have been urged to be extra vigilant after a spate of robberies and break-ins at the weekend.
One businessman said he believed a “well organised” criminal gang broke into his shop by removing roof tiles.
The first incident took place on Friday evening at 9.20pm when a man dressed in a back and white hoodie, blue jeans and brown shoes ent
ered McFadden’s shop in Bridge Street and grabbed £300 from the till before escaping on foot.
On Sunday morning, three men, one armed with a hand gun targeted two staff members of the Commodore bingo hall in Main Street around 10am. It is understood that the two staff members had been leaving the premises, which had not yet opened to the public, with the previous night’s takings. The three men made off in a car.
This was followed by a “carefully planned” burglary at Kelly’s Mace store in the Melmount Road during the early hours of yesterday morning.
The culprits broke into the shop by removing roof tiles and smashing through a hardwood ceiling between 11pm and 7am.
Mace owner, Patsy Kelly told the ‘Journal’ that it was a “well organised” and “professional operation.”
“Whoever did this must have had a very small frame because they managed to break in through a small space in the roof. I have no idea who did this, I locked up as usual on Sunday night and when I opened up in the morning I was confronted with all this.”
Mr. Kelly confirmed that a sum of cash was stolen from the office.
SDLP Councillor and District Policing Partnership (DPP) member, Eugene McMenamin urged the local business community to be “extra vigilant.”
The PSNI do not believe the incidents are related. Anyone with information is asked to contact the CID office on 0845 600 8000 or the ‘Crimestoppers’ charity on 0800 555 111.
The full article contains 322 words and appears in Journal Tuesday Derry Edit newspaper.
