A man and woman have appeared before Dungannon Magistrates Court in connection with an alleged distraction burglary in which an elderly male was targeted.

Anton Cirpaci (31) and Maria Ciurar (29), of Glenwood, Dundalk, are jointly charged with entering a property in Brookeborough as trespassers on March 17 and stealing a quantity of cash.

Cirpaci is further charged with driving a BMW without insurance at Belfast Road, Enniskillen, on the same date.

A detective constable said the charges against each accused could be connected.

She did not object to bail; however, when District Judge Michael Ranaghan was informed the injured party is elderly and was present at the time the offence was committed, he said he may not agree to release the pair.

The detective explained police received a report of the defendants arriving at the injured party’s home to look at a vehicle he had for sale.

While there, they asked if he wanted cleaning work carried out in his house, and he agreed to let them look around to assess this.

The court heard the pair then left, stating: “There was too much work to be done and they weren’t interested.”

After they had gone, the injured party realised approximately £1,000 had been taken from his home and alerted police, the court further heard.

A neighbour told officers who attended the scene, prior to going to the injured party’s home, that the couple had called to her.

She was able to provide a description of their car and handed over a business card they had left with her.

This bore the image of a Lamborghini as well as the name “Anthony” alongside a mobile phone number.

Shortly afterwards, police on mobile patrol detected the car with both defendants inside.

They were arrested and a search of their car uncovered a number of identical business cards, along with substantial sums of cash, shopping with receipts, and driving documents.

Arguing for bail to be granted, a defence barrister said the couple are “well established” in the Dundalk area, where they reside with their three children.

He added substantial cash sureties were available, if required, “to allay any fears they may not show up at subsequent court hearings".

The defence accepted the alleged offending “appears to be a distraction-type theft, but there was no violence or threat of violence”.

After consideration, Judge Ranaghan said: “With some hesitation, I will grant bail. These are particularly nasty types of crime. 

"They are targeted offences and we all know that. From what I’ve heard, to use the non-legal term, the defendants are ‘bang to rights’,“ added Judge Ranaghan.

Bail was set at £500 each, along with a similar cash surety, and the pair are banned from entering County Fermanagh, except to attend court.

The case has been adjourned to Enniskillen Magistrates Court for mention on April 11.