Aine McQuillan, who had a safe, a gun safe and two shot guns stolen from her home poses beside the understairs cupboard from which the safe was stolen DP05
THE VICTIM of one of a spate of burglaries in Newtownbutler has told the Fermanagh Herald that despite losing up to £10,000 worth of property in a break-in at her home, “the most disturbing thing about this is that someone was watching me.”
Aine McQuillan was targeted by thieves in recent weeks, who stole a gun cabinet, safe, expensive jewellery – and also caused damage to a window and wooden floor.
It is one of a number of burglaries in the village that prompted a public meeting of residents.
She estimates that collectively the thefts and damage will reach a cost of up to £10,000 but said that the methodical nature of the crime was the most worrying element.
Ms McQuillan rarely left the house, at Church Lane, on the day in question, except to pick up her six-year-old daughter from school, and a 40 minute shop in the local Supervalu.
It was at that point that thieves struck.
“I came home, unlocked the door and just wondered why my hall was absolutely upside down. I’d left it pretty tidy. I walked halfway into the hall, I was sort of nervous. I’d a six year old saying: ‘Mammy what’s going on here?”
She went on: “There was a gun cabinet upstairs, and to be honest I’d never even thought of it. We went up the stairs before the police arrived and sure enough it was gone. I was pretty shocked at that: I went into my own bedroom and I could see that it had been completely gone over and I lost a lot of good, expensive jewellery.
“I would imagine there would have been not short of £10,000, adding in things that have to be fixed. The wooden floor was destroyed when they dragged the cabinet out.”
The worst aspect, she said, was the nature of the burglary.
“I was totally shocked,” Ms McQuillan continued, “I’m at home all day and I just would never have had a concern. When you’re mostly there you don’t think it would happen to you.
“Yes things were stolen and we’re very annoyed, there were a lot of personal things in the safe.
But the most disturbing thing about this is that someone was watching me. Undoubtedly they were monitoring my movements and someone had to be pretty close that day.
“I’ve a small child who just didn’t want to stay in her own home. She was totally aware. What can you do when you open the front door and she’s standing beside you, you’re in shock.”
Police have said that they are continuing to investigate the incident and have appealed for information.
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