Shocking attack on Crossgar pensioner

Shocking attack on Crossgar pensioner

7 March 2012 - by DAVID TELFORD

CRIMINALS have been warned to stop preying on elderly and vulnerable people in Crossgar.

Community leaders and politicians in the village have this week joined forces to make it clear that criminal activity targeted against senior citizens will not be tolerated.

The move comes after pensioner Eric Moreland was left traumatised after six masked men forced their way into his Westlands home last Thursday evening, ransacking his bedroom and living room before fleeing empty-handed.

Mr. Moreland (71), who has had new alarms, locks and a security light fitted to his house since the incident, wants elderly people and those who live alone to make sure their homes are secure. The pensioner said he has been been left “shocked” and hopes no one else will suffer such a traumatic experience.

“What happened to me was very frightening. Some of the men searched my wardrobe, while every drawer in the bedroom and living room was pulled out,” explained Mr. Moreland. “I don’t keep money in the house, never have and never will.”

Mr. moreland said if by going public about what happened to him persuades others to increase their home security, it will have been worthwhile.

It’s a message which has been endorsed by community officials and politicians who say elderly people have a right to live in their homes, free from threat of fear and violence.

Mr. Paul Teggart, the chairman of the Crossgar Community Association, said people are concerned at what happened in Westlands last week and hope the criminals who targeted Mr. Moreland will be apprehended.

“This is not the first time criminals have struck in this part of the village. What happened to Eric was terrible and this sort of thing must not happen again. Criminals who target the vulnerable are not welcome in Crossgar and local people will not stand for this kind of despicable behaviour,” he added.

Rowallane councillors Maria McCarthy, Terry Andrews and Billy Walker have condemned the criminals and appealed to anyone who can help find those responsible to contact police.

Councillor McCarthy said Mr. Moreland was the victim of a horrific crime and said it is a “sad state of affairs” when defenceless members of the community are not safe in their own homes.

She added: “I have raised my concerns with the PSNI and requested increased patrols in the Westlands area and indeed throughout Crossgar to combat a spate of burglaries in the village which cannot be allowed to continue.”

Councillor Andrews said words could not describe how the pensioner must have felt when the six men forced their way into his home. He said what happened was “utterly unacceptable.”

“In these difficult times criminals are resorting to any means at all to get money. They are targeting the vulnerable and weak and these types of incidents could end in tragedy. Criminals who engage in this kind of activity are the lowest of the low and deserve no mercy at the hands of the law,” he added.

Councillor Walker described those who targeted the pensioner’s home as “thugs” and said they deserve “to feel the full force of the law.”

He added: “Criminals who engage in such evil behaviour should be sent to jail. Mr. Moreland has been left traumatised by this incident and I hope he recovers from what was clearly a frightening experience. No other person should have to suffer such trauma.”