Spate of burglaries across county on Tuesday night

GARDAI are investigating a series of burglaries and trespassing offences that occurred across Co Carlow between Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 January.

In south Co Carlow, there were four burglaries and attempted burglaries of sheds containing farm and garden equipment on the night of 19 January and into the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Between the early hours of 3-4am on 20 January, a number of farm tools were stolen from a shed on a farm in Ballyloughlin, Bagenalstown. The residents were disturbed and saw a vehicle leaving at the time but were unable to get a description of it.

The same night, a chainsaw was stolen from a shed in Nurney. In Borris, a power washer was stolen from a domestic shed between 6.30am and 10am on Tuesday morning and a padlock on an offsite farm shed in Ballybar was broken but nothing was taken.

Gardaí initially said there was no indication that the incidents were connected but acknowledged it could have been someone passing through and are investigating.

On Tuesday evening, a resident of a peaceful housing estate in Graiguecullen reported that, upon returning home, seeing a man leaving his front garden carrying a knife. The resident confronted the intruder, who cursed at him, produced a blade and then left the scene. There was no evidence of an attempt to break into the house and nothing was stolen. A woman may have been home alone during the incident, which occurred at around 5.45pm. The incident was reported to Carlow Garda Station several hours after it occurred.

In Killeshin, Co Laois, a homeowner returned to their house on Tuesday to find it ransacked and discovered that cash and jewellery had been taken. Gardaí believe the incident occurred between 6.20-6.45pm and that the suspect entered the house through a window at the back. Again, they are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

An Garda Síochána are currently seeking CCTV and doorbell footage from nearby homes to aid in their investigation and are asking anyone with information on any of the incidents to come forward.

Sinn Féin councillor for Laois, Aaron Kelly, said the incident in Graiguecullen was “shocking and deeply unsettling.” He advised people to “ensure doors and windows are locked, both at home and in their vehicles” and to “look out for elderly neighbours or those who are more vulnerable in your locality.” He noted that areas in Graigecullen with poor or no street lighting “create opportunities for criminal behaviour and heighten fear among residents” and urged Laois and Carlow local governments to take action to fix them.