Gardaí investigating series of burglaries across Westmeath

Gardaí are investigating a number of burglaries, in the Mullingar, Ballymore and Ballynacargy areas, including an aggravated burglary which involved the theft of a licensed firearm and the hospitalisation of a man in his 60s.

That incident occurred on the evening of October 28 at a residence on Harbour Street in Ballynacargy.

The occupant, a male in his 60s sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the course of the incident and was treated at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar.

A bag containing a licensed firearm was stolen. Gardaí have confirmed that the firearm has since been recovered. The scene has been preserved and technically examined.

One suspect, a male in his 20s, was arrested as part of the investigation and detained and questioned; he was released without charge.

A file will be prepared for the DPP and investigations are ongoing.

Ballymore

Meanwhile, gardaí are investigating a number of burglaries in the Ballymore area, which took place on the evening of October 26.

Gardaí have confirmed that there were break-ins at a local coffee shop and a fast food restaurant on High Street. Both premises were unoccupied at the time. Investigations into the incidents are ongoing.

A further burglary is being investigated at a domestic residence in Ballynacargy, which took place on the evening of October 30. The property was unoccupied at the time and investigations are ongoing.

In connection with that burglary, the owner of the home has issued an appeal to the public for information or CCTV footage from the area following the theft of a jewellery box containing “a lot of old gold and silver jewellery and other sentimental pieces including two USB sticks”.

“I’m especially appealing for any information on an old gold-coloured man’s watch with a broken strap in a small brown envelope and hospital notes,” she said.

Arrest

Separately, gardaí arrested a man in his 30s on Wednesday afternoon in connection with a burglary at a domestic residence in the early hours of that same morning.

The property in Mullingar was targeted at around 3am, and an undisclosed sum of cash and a number of other items were taken during the course of the incident.

The man has since appeared before a sitting of Athlone District Court and was remanded in custody to reappear before Mullingar District Court on November 7.