Sinn Fein Cllr Maolíosa McHugh.
Homeowners living along the border are being urged to be on “full alert” following a number of “creeper burglaries” in Clady and Strabane areas.
Sinn Fein Councillor Maolíosa McHugh said the burglaries had created “palable” fear in both communities.
Speaking after visiting the Clady area, Cllr McHugh said: “Opportunistic burglars, who have made use of vehicles stolen in Dublin to perpetrate their crimes, target border communities as the border is seen as an escape route in the event of ‘hot pursuit’.”
Cllr McHugh revealed Donegal North East TD Padraig MacLochlann had written to the local PCSP (Police and Community Safety Partnership) in Strabane recommending greater co-operation between the PCSP and the Gardaí Joint Policing Committee in the Republic to help combat rural crime.
He added: “The rural/border communities need reassurance that both the Gardaí and PSNI work closely together to achieve this objective.
“The good neighbours of Clady know to ‘look out for each other’ and in the event of one observing any suspicious intrusions it should be highlighted to the community and to the appropriate authorities.”
Cllr McHugh concluded: “It is in co-operating with each other on both sides of the border that the more vulnerable are protected.”
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