PENSIONER ROBBED
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
FERMANAGH and South Tyrone MLA Lord Morrow has condemned the robbery of a pensioner in Caledon at the weekend and praised the actions of a neighbour who tried to stop them escaping.
A gang of men stole cash from the elderly lady and threatened her neighbour with a knife during a distraction burglary at her home just outside Dungannon on Saturday.
The lady, who is in her 80s, answered her door of her house in Caledon to a man claiming to be from the electric board just after 1pm.
Two other men then entered the property and took a sum of money. All three then joined a fourth man who was waiting in a car outside.
As they made their getaway a neighbour tried to stop the gang by driving his van out in front of them. However, one of the men produced a knife and threatened him before the vehicle was moved off the road, allowing them to make their getaway in a grey Peugeot 407.
No-one was injured in the incident, said Police.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have information to contact them.
One of the men is described as five feet and eight inches tall, of stout build and was wearing smart casual clothing and a flat cap.
Two of the men had strong Southern Irish accents and one had an English accent.
Condemning the incident, Lord Morrow said: "Once again a vulnerable person has been left badly traumatised after ruthless thugs enter her home in broad daylight, under the pretext of being from the electric board.
"This has been a terrifying experience for a lady in her eighties, but that will not have entered the minds of the cowards who selected her in order to gain cash.
"I commend the actions of this lady's brave neighbour who attempted to block the vehicle of those who committed the robbery as they fled the scene.
“He too is bound to be very shaken, as he was threatened at knifepoint, after being surrounded by these thugs."
Continued Lord Morrow: "Caledon is a quiet but vulnerable village and I have no doubt this target appealed to the criminals in question, as the nearest Police Station to attend would have been Dungannon.
"This was no random hit. It was planned and the threat of violence was always present as these men were armed with an offensive weapon. There is a deeply sinister aspect to this crime and I urge anyone who witnessed it, or has any information at all to pass it to Police."
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