An Enniskillen man has spoken of the traumatic moment he came face to face with three masked men trying to break into his home on Tuesday night.

The man, who did not wish to be named, has told The Impartial Reporter that he was left shaken after three men wearing ski masks used a screwdriver in an attempt to prise open his front door in his home in the Derrin Road area.

“I had gone to bed early when I heard a bang at the front door, looked out the window and there were three guys in the front garden, and they had masks on,” he said.

“The one person I could see clearly was wearing a grey ski mask and he looked straight up at me. The other guy lifted a rock in the front garden and was in the process of firing it, he made all the actions to throw it. I think it was just to get me away from the window.”

He then ran into another room to phone the police following the incident which occurred at about 7.20pm, before taking stock at what had just happened.

“As well as using a screwdriver they had kicked the door and left two dents in it. They had pushed the door open by an inch and were very close to getting it opened.

“I don’t feel safe, I would be afraid of them coming back again. If I hadn’t got out of bed what would have happened if they had got in and came into my bedroom? Would I be standing here talking to you, or would I be lying in hospital, or lying in a funeral parlour?”

It’s understood at least one other attempted theft took place in the neighbourhood during the same night and with an increase in suspicious activity across the county he is warning others to be cautious.

“The crime prevention officer told me that PVC doors are the easiest to open, so make sure the doors are locked and if you are going out leave a light on, even on a timer,” he said.

As for those responsible for causing him distress, he said: “I’d love to face them face to face but they haven’t the nerve to do that. They are nothing but a pack of cowards, whoever they are.”

Detective Inspector Trevor Stevenson said: "At around 7:30pm we received a report that three masked men tried to force their way into a house in the Derrin Road. No one was injured in the incident, and the suspects fled in small red-coloured car, empty handed. There was minor damage reported to a door. 

"I want to appeal to anyone who was in these areas yesterday or last night and saw any suspicious activity, or any strange vehicles in the area. If you think you have information which may assist our investigation call detectives in Enniskillen on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference 1277 of 13/11/18."