Homeowners have been called on to be vigilant after an elderly couple in their 70s had their recently filled tank of home heating oil stolen by heartless thieves at the weekend.
The theft took place sometime during Saturday night and Sunday morning in the Carricklee area of Strabane.
Local Sinn Fein Cllr Karina Carlin said the couple had the tank filled tank on Friday in the anticipation of relatives coming to stay and had been left “very upset and distressed” by the “callous robbery.”
Calling for homeowers to be vigilant, Cllr Carlin added: “I have already put out an alert on social media – but this, of course, will not reach many older, vulnerable residents who are not familiar with facebook or twitter.
Sinn Fein Cllr Karina Carlin.
“I appeal to families, friends and neighbours to make contact with anyone you feel may be vulnerable, and warn them to be vigilant.
“They should ensure their oil tanks are in a secure, well lit place and report any suspicious activity immediately.
“The kind of people who would rob an elderly couple of their home heating oil are beneath contempt, and it must be borne in mind that in targeting older rural dwellers in our community, they also rob their victims of their peace of mind.”
Cllr Carlin concluded: “They are behaving like parasites and should get off the backs of innocent, honest, hardworking residents who can least afford to bear the burden of this shameful criminal behaviour.”
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