ANOTHER car smash and grab theft has occurred at the quiet rural area of Kilmegan Church graveyard near Crossgar while loved ones were visiting a family grave.
Down District UKIP representative Alan Lewis has expressed strong condemnation of the perpetrators of the blatant theft. Mr Lewis was contacted by local women Joan McCavery who had been with her partner James MacKintosh at Kilmegan church visiting her father’s grave on Friday 1st November. He said, “When they were in the graveyard, they heard a window of her car being smashed. Her partner ran to the car to discover the back passenger window broken and Joan’s handbag missing.
“After hearing of this incident, I met with Joan and James over the weekend. It is unbelievable to think that there are those that would stoop so low as to steal from a vehicle outside a graveyard where someone was obviously parked in while visiting a loved one’s grave.
“Speaking with local people, I have been advised there has been similar incidents in the area this past year. I would urge people to be vigilant in the run up to Christmas as there are opportunists out there waiting to take advantage of people going about their day-to-day tasks.
“I have made contact with local police and asked that the area be included in police patrols regularly in a hope this may deter any individuals that may be watching the church. I only hope that the perpetrators of this crime are caught and named and shamed as I was genuinely shocked when I heard of this incident. I call upon the perpetrators to have a long hard think at how they would feel if their mother or grandmother was robbed in such a manner . ‘Do onto others as you would have them do unto you’.”
A police spokesman said: “Police in Down have been aware of this sort of crime when on occasions members of the public park their cars and leave valuables in them.
“While we appreciate and welcome information from the public it is important that anyone using a car and parking in public should either remove valuables from the car of ensure that they are placed out of sight.
“These simple steps can help prevent thieves from targeting your car.”
If anyone has any information about his crime they can contact the police in Downpatrick at o28 44 615011.
