IRELAND: Elderly are Targeted by Teen Girls

BALLINA, Ireland (Western People), August 16, 2006: Three teenage girls terrorised elderly people in their homes throughout the county last week causing widespread concern. The youngsters, thought to be aged between 13 and 16, left elderly men and women in fear after conning their way into their homes during daylight hours on Wednesday last. The girls - one with blonde hair, the other with dark hair and the third was described as having rusty red hair - targeted homes in housing estates in four urban areas including Ballina, Enniscrone, Foxford and Westport. The daring three started the spate of con acts in Ballina at 12.30pm on Wednesday working through the towns before finishing up in Westport at 4.10pm, stealing a substantial amount of cash from one resident on their way. The youngsters tried to con and sneak their way into the homes making up various excuses to get past the owners. In one episode they pretended to have lost their dog to get into the house. Then they insisted that they were looking for an individual or knew somebody living in the house. They went as far as hugging an elderly man, pretending to know him, in a bid to get into his home but were unsuccessful in that case. Gardaí believe the three girls, who were described as being well dressed, were too young to drive and needed to be transported from one area to the next. They are appealing to the public for any information, which may assist them in their investigation, including any sighting of a vehicle, which may have been seen around housing areas. The incidents have caused concern across the region with the elderly being advised not to allow people into their homes without the appropriate identification. People are also being advised to look out for vulnerable neighbours, particularly those living alone. However, residents being terrorised in their own homes is not a first for the county with people, including the elderly, in housing estates in Castlebar on the receiving end of threatening and abusive behaviour in recent months. Gardaí and the Town Council were called in to put an end to the appalling behaviour, which prevented many elderly people from leaving their homes in case they met the culprits. There were also warnings to parents to ensure that children were not playing unsupervised outside their homes. Anyone with any information on any of the incidents involving the three young girls last week is asked to contact the Gardaí immediately. By Marian Harrison