Concerns grow as two more cars are hijacked
POLICE were last night investigating a further two carjacking incidents – one in west Belfast and another in Co Tyrone.
In the first incident a 27-year-old man told police that his gold coloured Peugeot 206 car had been hijacked by two
unknown men in the Norglen Parade area of Belfast shortly after 5pm yesterday. There was a struggle and the driver was injured.
Shortly afterwards police were told a gold coloured Peugeot 206 was on fire in the Rossnareen Avenue area.
West Belfast Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey said that the “thugs” responsible had reached “a new low” when they struck the driver in the face with a hammer.
“My thoughts are with the victim and his family at this time and I wish him a speedy recovery,” he said.
“There needs to be unity across the board to deal with this and the community in west Belfast and across the city demand that they are protected from these thugs.
“The PSNI need to do their job and the judicial system also need to step up to the mark. As a community we must stand united in support of each other and provide whatever information we have so that these thugs can be taken off the streets before they do any more harm.”
The other incident was in the Main Street area of Carrickmore on Sunday.
At around 9.30pm a man was sitting in his car when an unknown man opened the driver’s door and told him to get out of the car, forcing him from the vehicle.
The driver received bruising to his arm and neck.
The unknown man then drove off in the direction of Omagh and the vehicle had not been recovered last night.
It is understood police do not believe this hijacking is linked to recent hijackings in the Belfast area.
Ulster Unionist MLA for West Tyrone and Policing Board member, Ross Hussey, said there have been over 60 arrests in connection with car crime in the last month.
“The recent spate of carjacking is most concerning with a number of incidents happening across Belfast during the last month. This undoubtedly promotes fear throughout the community and I would call on the justice minister to outline what
steps he is taking to reassure communities.
“The PSNI have my full support as they work to tackle this dreadful crime and they must be afforded all the resources they need.
“I note with interest the comments of Sinn Fein MLA Jennifer McCann in calling for the law to be strengthened and addressing legal loopholes in order to be able to hold people for longer when investigations are ongoing. I certainly support her in this call, however there is a certain irony given the terrorist and criminal activity engaged in by Sinn
Fein’s fellow travellers in the IRA in the past and the legal loopholes they were more than happy to exploit.”
Police have asked for anyone who may have witnessed either incident or who has any information to contact them on 0845 600 8000 or anonymously call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
