The victims of a robbery in Bellanaleck have warned locals to be more vigilant and to report any suspicious activity in the area to the police.
“If you do notice something, be cognisant of it,” warned Bellanaleck resident Mark McConkey, whose house was robbed while he and his fiancée were out for dinner last Saturday evening.


Mark and his fiancée Orla McBrien were “very upset” to find that the thief (or thieves) had stolen their wedding rings which were being stored in a spare bedroom ahead of their wedding day in eight weeks. They also made away with a number of other jewellery pieces belonging to Orla which held sentimental value.


The couple left home at 7pm and returned at 11pm to find the double French doors to the rear of their house smashed in.
“The first things we thought of were our wedding rings and of course when we went upstairs to the spare room the boxes were lying empty. It’s not the money, it’s the stress of it all. Although the rings can be replaced, it will be difficult to get the exact same rings that we’d spent so much time choosing. Orla’s emotions are still very raw because it’s like they knew us and knew that we are getting married. Perhaps they thought we’d have money in the house because we are planning a wedding, but we didn’t. They were only interested in money and jewellery because there was an iPad charging in the kitchen and a laptop in the spare room beside the rings and they didn’t take them,” said Mark.


“It’s a total invasion of your privacy. You almost feel dirty because every pocket of every item of clothing in our wardrobe had been gone through. They had strewn a number of business cards I had collected at a work-related conference across the floor. It worries me that they now know who I am and where I work,” he added.


Mark and Orla were surprised to learn that a neighbouring house had been robbed on January 15 and the thieves had made off with money and jewellery.
“We were not aware that our neighbours had been robbed. If had had been aware, we would have taken more precautionary measures around the house,” Mark continued. “I think on Saturday night a neighbour thought she heard something and had got spooked. She rang her husband and he told her it was all in her head. I guess we all need to be more aware of what’s going on in our neighbourhood and not just trust that someone else will look into it.”


In the wake of the robbery – after which the thief climbed up on the picnic table and jumped over the back fence to escape – the residents of Corn Mill are discussing the possibility of setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme.
The PSNI have not yet released a statement regarding the robbery at Mr. McConkey’s home.


In relation to the January 15 robbery at Corn Mill, Bellanaleck Constable Harpur has said: 
“We are investigating a report of a burglary in the Corn Mill area sometime between 6.20pm on Friday, January 15 and 7.20am on January 16, during which a sum of cash and jewellery were taken. 


It is understood some of the jewellery had been discarded and was recovered in the Sligo Road area on January 16, however, Police are keen to hear from anyone who noticed anything suspicious to contact them. 
The number to call is 101, quoting reference number 25216116. 
Alternatively information about crime can be passed via the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.”