Gardaí believe a spate of burglaries across Inishowen may be connected

Gardaí are appealing for information following a spate of burglaries across the Inishowen peninsula. 

The crimes occurred in the Moville and Greencastle areas between December 10 and 11.  Garda believe these burglaries are linked due to the method used to gain entry to the properties and the time frame in which they are recorded, also “Inishowen can go without burglaries for quite a while and when they come together it is usually the one gang doing it,” Garda Niall Maguire revealed.  

A burglary occurred at a house in the area of Meenletterbale, Lecamy, Moville. It is believed that entry was gained to the house through an unlocked rear door. The theft occurred between 12 midnight and 3am on Monday, December 11. A sum of cash was stolen from the property as well as a Dewalt angle grinder and a Dewalt drill.

Another burglary took place at St Columba’s Church, Ballinacrae, Moville. Gardaí were en route to the previous burglary call when they observed that the lights were on inside the Church. The incident occurred between 12 midnight to 3:25am in the early hours of the same morning. They went to check on the building and could hear the alarm which had been activated. 

The front door of the Church had been forced open as had the Sacristy door. The Sacristy had been ransacked and damage had been caused to a tabernacle. Another couple of rooms within the Church building were also ransacked after entry had been forced. Nothing is believed to have been stolen but substantial damage was caused.

An overnight theft occurred at Greencastle Golf Club, the entry was gained by forcing a rear window and several doors were also forced open inside the building. Rooms were ransacked and a sum of cash was stolen from a cash register and a charity box within the building. The incident happened between Sunday December 10 at 7pm and 8:30 am on Monday, December 11. 

A burglary occurred at a property in the Greencastle area where a purse was stolen from an unlocked car at the property. An unlocked shed was also entered and a red/black Makita fuel pump was stolen from within. The theft occurred on Monday, December 11 between 2:20am and 5:30am.

Lastly, an attempted theft occurred at a property in the area of Carrowhugh, Greencastle, where two unlocked cars were entered and ransacked at the property but nothing was stolen from them. This occurred between 4am and 6:30am on Monday, December 11.

“If anybody has any relevant information in relation to these break-ins and damage in the Moville and Greencastle areas or if they observed any suspicious activity/vehicles between Sunday, December 10 and Monday, December 11, we ask them to contact the Garda Station in Buncrana on 074-9320540 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111,” Garda Niall Maguire said.