Trim area sees large number of burglaries in past week

Gardai are investigating a spate of burglaries in the Trim district in the past week after 11 homes and premises were targeted. Six burglaries at rural homes at Trim, Kilmessan and Bellinter which took place last Saturday evening are believed to be linked. Between 8.40pm and 8.47pm on 30th January, a house was broken into at Grange Boyne, Kilmessan. The alarm was activated and, when the householder returned, they found the house had been ransacked. Entry was gained via a rear window and jewellery including a 24 carat gold chain with a V to the front with a single diamond and pearl, and coins were also taken. The total value of the property is €1,800. Two burglaries occurred at Brannockstown, Trim, on the same date. One house was broken into between 8.15pm and 10pm, and while the house was ransacked, it is understood that nothing was taken. The second burglary at Brannockstown, occurred between 9.20pm and 10pm where a window was forced. The property was ransacked and the alarm system was damaged. Jewellery was taken including an Armani watch and two gold sovereign rings. Gardai say there are reports of a 03 D registered dark blue or navy crew cab-type vehicle seen in the area on 29th and 30th January and are appealing to the public to contact them if they noticed this vehicle or have a more accurate description. A fourth burglary occurred on 30th January at around 9pm at Pike Corner, Trim. The alarm was ripped off the wall and the front door was kicked in. The house was ransacked, but it appears that nothing was taken. Gardai believe these four burglaries are linked. It is also believed that break-ins to two houses at Bellinter, Navan, between 6pm and 9pm on the same date are linked. The occupants of both houses were out at the time and the front doors of the hosues were forced. The houses were ransacked but it is understood that nothing was taken. ENFIELD BURGLARIES Meanwhile, three homes in the Enfield area were also targeted in the past week. A house at Delmere, Enfield, was broken into at 5.15am on Wednesday morning, 27th January. The occupier of the house was asleep upstairs and woke up after hearing a noise downstairs. The lock of the patio door at the rear of the house had been forced and a red leather biker jacket and biker boots were stolen. Two adjoining houses in Glen Abhainn, Enfield, were targeted between 7pm and 9pm on 28th January and, in both cases, entry was gained by forcing the back patio door lock. In one of the burglaries, a Sony laptop was stolen with an approximate value of €500. In the second break-in, a JVC camcorder, a Sony stereo, a HP laptop and two digital cameras, with a total value of €1,600, were taken. Trim Gardai are also investigating a break-in to a creche at High Street, Trim, overnight between 6pm on 26th January and 9am on 27th January. The back door was forced and the premises was ransacked with nothing was taken. The Boyne Community School was broken into over last weekend and four youths were captured on CCTV attempting to gain entry to the building by cutting bars on the window. The window was broken and the youths gained entry but it is understood that they fled with nothing. A burglary at Pinebrook, Trim, between 1.30pm and 6.30pm on 31st January where five laptops were stolen, including a black HP, a blue Sony, a pink Sony, a red Sony, and a black Toshiba, is also being investigated. A Sony PSP and a yellow Sony digital camcorder were also taken. VALUABLE SADDLES Property to the value of €50,000 was stolen from an equestrian centre at Springvalley, Summerhill, between 2.30pm on 24th January and midday on 25th January. The horse riding equipment that was stolen includes valuable saddles that are considered unique and anyone who is approached to buy such items at knock -down prices is asked to contact Summerhill or Trim Garda Station. The items taken include five Antari saddles, two Amerigo saddles, 11 Wintec saddles, seven Albion saddles, a Stubbon saddle, a Jaguar saddle, two Berney saddle, 1 Goodwin saddle, a pair of Amerigo showjumping boots and Dalmar showjumping boots. Gardai are also investigating an incident where an 83-year-old Rathmolyon man who accepted a lift discovered his wallet had been stolen. The man took the lift from the occupents of a green and white van at around 5.45pm on 25th January, from Trim to his home in Rathmolyon. He discovered his wallet, which contained €100, had been stolen. It is understood there were three men in the vehicle. Gardai are appealing to members of the public who have any information relating to any of the above incidents to contact Trim Garda Station. Gardai in Navan are investigating the theft of a red Volkswagen Golf with a 06 D registration that was parked at a hosue in Birch Close, Johnstown, between 10pm on 27th January and 9.30am on 28th January. A burglary at a house at Beechlawn, Johnstown Wood, where the keys to a grey O5 CN-registered Volkswagan Passat were stolen and the vehicle driven away at around 3.20am on 28th January is also being investigating. The householder heard a noise and saw their car being reversed out their driveway. Their keys had been taken from a hall table. The theft of 2,500 Blue Bangor roof slates worth €7,000 from a yard at Ardmulchan, Navan, is also being investigated. The slates were taken between 9.30am and 11.15am on 28th January. Anyone in the trade who is offered such slates at knockdown prices is asked to contact Navan Garda Station. Meanwhile, two men arrested by Trim Gardai on the grounds of a premises at the Longwood Road in Trim at around 4am on 28th January have appeared in court. The men are aged 19 and 23 and both have addresses in Northern Ireland. They were taken to Trim Garda Station and were later charged with trespass, unauthorised taking of a vehicle and possession of articles used in the course of a burglary or theft. They were remanded in custody at Trim Court on 28th January to appear a week later on 4th February. Two 17-year-olds were arrested by Trim Gardai in relation to criminal damage caused to seven vehicles at Lackanash, Trim, on 29th January. Gardai have charged a 19-year-old male with criminal damage after the window of a fast food premises on Emmet Street, Trim, was broken on 22nd January and again overnight on 28th-29th January. Meanwhile, Trim Gardai seized €200 of cannabis herb on 27th January at Ballivor Road, Trim, after stopping a vehicle and searching it. A 23-year-old male was interviewed and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).