GARDA detectives are hunting organised crime gangs who went on a theft spree last Sunday – while families were away from their homes for Mother’s Day.
Homes were raided in Raphoe, Newtowncunningham, Carrigans, Burt and Lifford in a series of thefts.
And in one raid in Burt they stole a family heirloom belonging to an 81-year-old pensioner as well as hundreds of euro worth of jewellery.
The heirloom – a gold medal awarded to an aunt for her work at a hospital in Belfast in the 1920s – is described as ‘irreplacable’.
The elderly victim said: “It was the ideal time to break into homes when many people were out enjoying Mother’s Day and they were only looking for money and gold.”
“This is a one-off item that can’t be replaced,” said the pensioner. “All the other things you can go out an buy again but not this.”
Burnfoot Garda Station on 07493 68105 want to hear from anyone offered the medal or other items in suspicious circumstances.
Other items taken in the Burt burglary included a heavy antique gate bracelet with padlock; a gate-style necklace; one fine gold chain; a silver badge from the Ballymagroarty Women’s Institute; a gold cameo brooch; a gold brooch with pearls; an antique gold brooch with purple stones and a purse with Sterling change.
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