Michael Duffy
A BELFAST woman who was holidaying in the Mayo area last week has said she is alarmed by the fact that she and her family were possibly being watched after one of their cars was broken in to while the family enjoyed a walk on a well-known beach.
The woman said she contacted The Mayo News so that other unwitting visitors to Silver Strand beach near Louisburgh would not fall victim to the same crime. Her sister’s car was broken in to at 3pm in the afternoon last Wednesday, with €150 cash being taken from a handbag.
“What annoyed us most was the manner of the break-in. We were careful not to leave anything valuable visible in the cars because the area is isolated and my sister actually made the effort to place her handbag in the boot of the car.
“However, when we got back to the car after an hour walking on the beach my sister found a back window of her car smashed, and the partition of the boot pulled forward. She also found that €150 had been removed from her handbag.”
The Belfast woman, who has been travelling to Mayo for many years, said her sister felt like the perpetrators were watching her when she put her handbag into the boot.
“I suppose there is a possibility that the person who did this gambled on there being something valuable in the boot but to me it’s more likely that they watched our movements before carrying out the break-in.”
Gardaí are currently investigating the matter but the woman said her family were upset with what has happened.
“We really enjoy the beaches in Mayo and Silver Strand is one of our favourites, but I’m not sure we will go back there again now after what has happened.”
