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| Pensioners targeted in robberies | Pensioners targeted in robberies |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Four elderly pensioners have been attacked in their homes in separate robberies in County Antrim. | |
| Four men broke into the house of a 74-year-old woman at Tansy Road, Ballinderry, and stole £1500 worth of jewellery on Monday at about 1700 GMT. | Four men broke into the house of a 74-year-old woman at Tansy Road, Ballinderry, and stole £1500 worth of jewellery on Monday at about 1700 GMT. |
| A short time later, four men forced their way into the home of a 91-year-old woman at Glenavy Road, Crumlin. They took money and jewellery. | A short time later, four men forced their way into the home of a 91-year-old woman at Glenavy Road, Crumlin. They took money and jewellery. |
| Another man, aged 68, was robbed at his home on the Belfast Road in Crumlin. | |
| Two masked men one armed with a gun, used a sledgehammer to force their way into his home | |
| The incident took place at about 2215 BST on Monday. The man was forced to open a safe and money was taken. | |
| There can be no doubt that this gang will attack more elderly people unless they are stopped and put away where they belong Patricia LewsleySDLP | |
| The men then forced the man into the rear of his car and drove off, abandoning him about two miles away. The victim suffered cuts and bruises. | |
| Earlier in Glengormley, four youths took an 81-year-old man's Christmas money. | |
| The four young men broke into the back of his home at about 1830 GMT. | |
| They ransacked the home and made off with his money. | They ransacked the home and made off with his money. |
| In all three cases, the robbers' victims were left badly shaken. The 74-year-old woman was bruised to her wrists after she grabbed during the robbery. | In all three cases, the robbers' victims were left badly shaken. The 74-year-old woman was bruised to her wrists after she grabbed during the robbery. |
| Police are investigating a possible link between the robberies in Ballinderry and Lisburn. | Police are investigating a possible link between the robberies in Ballinderry and Lisburn. |
| The gang who broke into the house in Ballinderry wore jumpers pulled up to cover their faces and may have had southern accents. | The gang who broke into the house in Ballinderry wore jumpers pulled up to cover their faces and may have had southern accents. |
| One of the burglars who broke into the pensioner's home in Crumlin is described as being between 18-20 years of age, about 5ft 6in tall, with blue eyes, and wearing dark coloured clothing and a coloured hat. | One of the burglars who broke into the pensioner's home in Crumlin is described as being between 18-20 years of age, about 5ft 6in tall, with blue eyes, and wearing dark coloured clothing and a coloured hat. |
| Fear | Fear |
| June Mallon, from the Newtownabbey Senior Citizens Forum, called for help so that elderly people could live without fear. | June Mallon, from the Newtownabbey Senior Citizens Forum, called for help so that elderly people could live without fear. |
| "There isn't anything there to stop them doing it," she said. | "There isn't anything there to stop them doing it," she said. |
| "There is no fear. The rights are all on the side of the law breaker. We have no rights. We have no right to live without fear." | "There is no fear. The rights are all on the side of the law breaker. We have no rights. We have no right to live without fear." |
| Patricia Lewsley, SDLP, said: "Anyone who can shed any light on this horrific attack must go to the police now. | Patricia Lewsley, SDLP, said: "Anyone who can shed any light on this horrific attack must go to the police now. |
| "For there can be no doubt that this gang will attack more elderly people unless they are stopped and put away where they belong." | "For there can be no doubt that this gang will attack more elderly people unless they are stopped and put away where they belong." |
| Last week, two sisters in their 80s were robbed in their south Belfast home by a four-strong gang, two of whom were armed with screwdrivers. | Last week, two sisters in their 80s were robbed in their south Belfast home by a four-strong gang, two of whom were armed with screwdrivers. |
| In a separate incident, an 84-year-old man was beaten and robbed at his house near Newry. | In a separate incident, an 84-year-old man was beaten and robbed at his house near Newry. |