POLICE are investigating an armed robbery at a house in the area of Gardiner crossroads a short distance from Maguiresbridge.
A report was received by police shortly after 9pm on Friday 21st September.
Four masked men, armed with knives entered the house and threatened the male occupant before tying him up and making off with a sum of money and two mobile phones.
The man was not physically injured but was left badly shaken following the incident.
Commenting local councillor Sheamus Greene said, “People are really upset about it. There have been a few house break-ins in the locality in the last couple of years and it is very frightening for those concerned.
“I know locally people have been targeted when they have been away on holidays. This is upsetting when people come into your own personal space.”
In order to combat this issue Mr Greene said, “Neighbours need to be keeping an eye out for strange vehicles.
“Different people have mentioned community watch areas and this may be something rural communities will have to consider.”
He added, “Attacks like these leave those in rural areas very wary of people coming onto their streets at night. Other locals are left wondering who will be next.”
Local Cllr Victor Warrington commented, “This was obviously a cowardly act carried out by the individuals regardless of whether they were local or from outside the area.
“There was also a similar armed robbery over the weekend in Omagh, it’s hard to know if there would be any link to this or not.”
This is not the first time that Maguiresbridge has been subject to armed attacks.
“In June this year Frazer’s Nisa grocery store in the town was targeted in an armed break in.
“They had an attempted break-in focused on their cash machine,” notes Mr Warrington. Those who carried out the attack destroyed the ATM but left empty handed. “This caused more of an inconvenience for the locals as the ATM was irreparably damaged and they had to wait to get a new one,” he said.
The PSNI are currently appealing for information to help with their investigations into the armed robbery in the Gardiners Cross area. Anyone who may have noticed suspicious activity in the area on Friday evening can contact detectives at Enniskillen on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.
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