Vandals damage grave headstone

Thursday, May 08, 2008

By Michael Bashford

The incident, which happened overnight, between Tuesday, April 22, and Wednesday, April 23, saw the headstone pushed over and cracked. The estimated cost of repair is around £500.

Nearby, vandals also damaged a partly built timber frame house at Manor Farm on Moat Street, Donaghadee. Plastic covers were removed and the wood was split.

The damage caused amounts to between £30,000 and £40,000.

Elsewhere, thieves have stolen a range of hand tools costing approximately £3,000.

They stole the tools from a van which was broken into on the Springmount Road, Ballygowan, overnight, between Thursday, April 24 and Friday, April 25.

In Newtownards, a house was broken into on Milecross Road, on Friday, April 25.

Entry to the house was gained by breaking a window in the rear door. A flatscreen TV, laptop, jewellery and several chequebooks were stolen.

In nearby Sketrick Island Park, a house was broken into on Saturday, April 26. The homeowner was in the house at the time. The house was entered through an unlocked kitchen door.

A black and white ‘grip-bag’ containing hairdressing equipment, a Nokia mobile phone and charger were stolen. Police later recovered the grip-bag and hairdressing equipment nearby.

Police are appealing for anyone with information on any of these incidents to contact them on 0845 600 8000 or alternatively through Crimestoppers on 0845 555 111.