Gardaí investigating whether gang involved in burglaries

Anton McNulty

GARDAÍ in the Castlebar and Claremorris districts are investigating the possibility that a travelling gang may have been involved in a series of burglaries which took place in the region over the weekend.
A number of homes were burgled in the Claremorris and Castlebar region on Friday and Saturday in which cash and jewellery were taken in the majority of cases. Gardaí in Claremorris are investigating eight separate break-ins around Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Ballindine, while there were a further four burglaries in Castlebar on Saturday evening.
Two burglaries were also reported over the weekend in Roscommon and gardaí are investigating if they are all connected.
“It is unusual that we will have so many break-ins over a short period of time and we are looking at the possibility that they are linked,” Superintendent Joe McKenna of Castlebar Garda Station told The Mayo News.
“We are looking at the possibility that there may have been a travelling gang going around the place. They appeared to be looking for just cash and jewellery because there were other items which could have been taken but were left,” he said.
Four houses were broken into in Castlebar between the hours of 6pm and 9pm on Saturday night. Two of the burglaries took place in Rathbawn Drive, one in The Curragh and the other took place in Knockapunta. In all cases a rear window or door was forced open.
Cash and jewellery was taken from only one of the homes and nothing was stolen from the other three. Supt McKenna said they are appealing for anyone in the area who may have noticed anything to come forward.
“This was a busy time of the evening in Castlebar with the Mayo match on and people would have been out and about. We are looking at CCTV and are appealing to taxi drivers who may have been in the area or people with dash cams to come forward. You never know what they would have seen which could help us,” he said.
A number of properties were targeted in south and east Mayo on Friday evening and two cars were broken into in Robeen near Hollymount.

Killawalla break-in
Gardaí are also investigating the burglary of MacEvilly’s Bar and Shop in Killawalla sometime on Friday morning between 2am and 5am. It is understood that entry to the shop was gained when a small, back window was pushed in and cash and cigarettes were stolen. The proprietors were on the premises but were not disturbed during the burglary.
Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity regarding the burglaries over the weekend is asked contact gardaí in Claremorris on 094 93 72080 or Castlebar on 094 90 22222.