Gardaí investigating stolen cars from Westport homes

Anton McNulty

GARDAÍ are looking for the assistance of the public in locating a Volkswagen Passat which was one of two cars stolen in Westport over the weekend.
The car was stolen following the burglary of a home in Monument View, Westport in the early hours of Sunday morning when the car keys were taken. It was the second incident over the weekend where a car was stolen also following the burglary of a home.
The first incident took place in the early hours of Saturday morning when the keys of a Mercedes was stolen from a home at Radharc na Greine on Altamont Steet.
The car was seen going the wrong way down Bridge Street - which is a one-way street - at 7.30am before it was abandoned along the Mall near McGreevy’s shop and recovered by Gardaí. As of Monday evening, the 2007 silver Passat has yet to be located.
In total there were three burglaries over the weekend with the third also taking place at Radharc na Greine but nothing of substantial was taken in this burglary. On all three incidents, entry was gained to the properties by forcing open the back door.  The three premises were occupied at the time of the burglaries and the occupants did not realise they were burgled until later that morning.
Gardaí believe that the three burglaries are all connected and because the car went the wrong way down Bridge Street they believe whoever is responsible is not a local to the area.
The Gardaí say they have no leads as to who may be responsible for the burglaries but are looking through CCTV to see if they can identify anyone in relation to the burglaries.
Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday morning in the Westport area is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 50230.