Westport public asked to be vigilant after burglaries

Gardaí appeal for public to be vigilant after spate of Westport burglaries


Edwin McGreal

Gardaí in Westport are calling on residents in the town and its environs to be vigilant after a spate of burglaries in the area in the last ten days.
Three burglaries and one attempted burglary took place in the town, all in buildings which were unoccupied at the time.
The most recent took place on Friday night last at Cottons Dry Cleaners on Quay Hill, Westport, which was broken into between 8.30pm and 9pm. Entry was gained by breaking in the back door and a quantity of money was taken.
On St Patrick’s weekend there were three incidents within 24 hours. On the night of Friday, March 14 two houses at The Elms, Westport and in Aughagower were broken into. The house in The Elms was ransacked but nothing was taken while jewellery and laptops were taken from the house in Aughagower. This house was broken into via a back door while the house in The Elms was broken into via a patio door.
The following night at 9pm an attempted burglary took palace at a house in Kilmeena. A front window was broken in the attempt but that triggered an alarm which disturbed the intruder(s).
“We would ask people to be vigilant and to report any person or persons they believe to be acting suspiciously. People should also ensure that they carry out security checks at their homes,” a garda spokesperson told The Mayo News.