Elderly Robbery Slammed

News that three masked men armed with what is thought to have been a crowbar have robbed two elderly women at their home in south Belfast has been condemned.

SDLP South Belfast MLA, Conall McDevitt, has called on the police to redouble their efforts to catch the violent criminals who are targeting vulnerable elderly people in their homes across South Belfast.

Mr McDevitt will be meeting senior police officers in South Belfast this week to discuss the recent spate of attacks.

He said that the men forced their way into the house in the Cricklewood Park area at about 8pm on Saturday and demanded money from the women.

The pensioners, who are aged in their 80s and 90s, were manhandled by the men who ransacked the house before the intruders made off with a small sum of cash.

The women were not injured in the incident, but were left very shaken by their ordeal.

The SDLP MLA has also organised a public meeting to discuss the recent spate of attacks has also called on the community to watch out for elderly neighbours and report any suspicious activity around the homes of older people immediately to the police.

He said: "I am shocked to hear of yet another attack. It takes a particularly sick kind of person to enter the home of an elderly couple, attack them and rob them of cash and possessions they have worked their entire lives for.

"We owe so much to the older people in our community. They continue to make a significant contribution through voluntary work, childcare and paid work. They deserve better than this."

The SDLP public meeting on the issue takes place at 7.00pm on Thursday March 11th in St Bridget's Parish Hall, Malone Road.

Detectives want to hear from anyone with information, or who noticed a blue van in the Cricklewood Park area.

(BmCC/GK)