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Bomb scare burglaries 'planned' Anger at 'bomb scare' burglaries
(about 12 hours later)
Burglars who targeted evacuated homes during a hoax bomb alert in east Belfast had planned the break-ins, the police have said. Residents of a row of houses in east Belfast are angry that burglars were able to operate just metres away from police during a bomb scare.
Eight properties in the Cumberland Road area of Dundonald were ransacked as the security forces cordoned off the area. Eight homes on the Cumberland Road in Dundonald were ransacked after a hoax phone call on Saturday night.
It followed a phone call, allegedly from dissident republicans, claiming that a 500lb car bomb had been abandoned in the street. One of the residents said most of those burgled were in their 70s and 80s.
Chief inspector Stephen Addley said the robbers knew what they were doing. A warning was given that a 500lb car bomb had been left in the street. The caller said he was from the Continuity IRA but no code word was used.
"What it does say is that this was clearly pre-planned," he said. However, robbers used the alert to break in through the backs of the houses.
"We are led to believe, although our investigations are at an early stage, they knew where they were targeting, they knew the residents who were living in those properties and they also knew that the backs of those properties were exposed out into open land. Stolen
"It's natural to presume, in all probability, they knew where police would put the cordons... in Cumberland Road, Cumberland Drive." The houses were entered between midnight and 0100 BST on Sunday, as the security forces carried out two controlled explosions on the street.
Army technical experts were called to the scene on Saturday evening and the area was evacuated.
During a four-hour operation, two controlled explosions were carried out on a suspect car in the street. However, the alert was later declared a hoax.
When the residents returned to their homes, they realised that at least eight homes had been broken into.
The houses were entered between midnight and 0100 BST.
Jewellery, keys and other goods were stolen.Jewellery, keys and other goods were stolen.
'Left out in rain' One resident said they were furious that the burglars were able to break into their homes while the police were standing close by.
One man, who did not want to be identified, said residents were furious that the burglars were able to break into their homes while the police were standing close by.
"We believe it was an elaborate set-up to burgle Cumberland Road," he said."We believe it was an elaborate set-up to burgle Cumberland Road," he said.
"Elderly people were left out in the rain for four hours. "Elderly people were left out in the rain for four hours."
"I don't know what these people think they are doing - we are only working-class people struggling to pay mortgages. Chief inspector Stephen Addley said the robbers knew what they were doing.
"These people come here, thinking they can just walk in, burgle people's houses and get lots of stuff." "What it does say is that this was clearly pre-planned," he said.
"We are led to believe, although our investigations are at an early stage, they knew where they were targeting, they knew the residents who were living in those properties and they also knew that the backs of those properties were exposed out into open land."
It is understood the car had been stolen in Newcastle about an hour before it was abandoned in Cumberland Road.It is understood the car had been stolen in Newcastle about an hour before it was abandoned in Cumberland Road.
Police appealed to anyone who witnessed the stolen silver Toyota Carina being abandoned in Cumberland Drive, or its occupants, to contact them.Police appealed to anyone who witnessed the stolen silver Toyota Carina being abandoned in Cumberland Drive, or its occupants, to contact them.