A WOMAN was injured in Derrygonnelly at the weekend when she disturbed a man attempting to burgle her garage.
The Derrygonnelly incident was one of several in a weekend of crime across Fermanagh, that included burglaries in Kesh and Belle Isle, and the dramatic theft of a cash machine in Irvinestown.
Shortly before 11pm on Sunday night the woman went out to turn off her garage light at her home on the Glennsheevar Road, Churchill, when she came across a man with a strimmer she believed he’d stolen from the garage. The man, who was wearing a blue hoody, dark jeans and blue trainers, ran passed her and pushed her to the ground, injuring her knee.
Chairman of the Derrygonnelly and District Partnership Michael Skuce, pictured below, said people in the community were shocked.
“We’re absolutely disgusted this has happened,” he said. “We just hope the police are able to get this person.”
Derrygonnelly Cllr Bernice Swift said there was currently “a sense of fear” in the area, stating there had been several thefts and attempted thefts in recent times.
“They have had a very adverse and negative impact on individuals and I ask people to look out for each other and to be extra careful and very alert to any suspicious activity,” she said. “We can only rely on our own vigilance for our own safety and security particularly as most of these activities are taking place very late at night and when we least expect it.”
In Kesh, a mechanic was left picking up the pieces of his livelihood after his garage was “cleaned out” following a break-in in the early hours of Friday morning.
Local man Neville Armstrong, who is heavily involved in the local community, said 70-year-old George Sava was a well-known “gentleman” in the local community.
“They cleaned him out of all his tools, of all the things for his livelihood.” he said, calling on more resources to be given to rural policing.
Meanwhile, a Rolex watch, women’s jewellery and a left-handed double barrelled Beretta 12 gauge shot gun were among the items stolen in a burglary at a home in the Belle Isle area.
Police are appealing for information on all the above incidents, and have urged anyone who can help to call either 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800555111.
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