Spate of break-ins to vehicles in church car parks

THERE has been a spate of break-ins to cars over the past week, most of them in church parking areas.

Last weekend, two cars were broken into at Ballintubber Abbey while the owners were at Saturday evening (August 5) Mass. 

Two handbags containing purses with sums of money were taken from one vehicle. In the second break-in, a gent's wallet was taken after a side window in the vehicle targeted was smashed.

On Sunday (August 6) a Skoda car parked oustide St. Cronan's Church, Balla, was broken into and a sum of money stolen.

There have also been several other break-ins to car outside churches in the Erris area over the past few weeks.

In other crimes involving vehicles, a spoiler was removed from a Toyota hatchback car parked at Hoban's car park, Castlebar, while the front bumper was removed from a Ford Mondeo hatchback parked at Liscosker, Kilkelly, on August 9.

Finally, four alloy wheels were stolen from a vehicle parked at the Tim Hastings Garage in Westport. 

In another incident at the same yard overnight on August 4/5, two car windows were broken. 

Gardaí are investigating all incidents. They have especially warned churchgoers and those parking at lakes, rivers, beaches, or other scenic locations not to leave handbags or valuables visible in their vehicles.