Police appeal for information after attack caught on video

Three people, a father and two children, were at home in their Corcrain home in Portadown when the incident happened.

A gang of four people wearing hoodies attacked the house in Drumcarn Gardens at around 11.18pm.

A man can be seen smashing the window of one car with what appears to be a crowbar. Another vehicle was attacked but when the alarm went off, they ran off.

The victim said he was at home with his daughter, aged seven and son, aged 21 when the attack happened.

He explained that they targeted both his car and his son’s car. “They left rags doused in petrol in the back of my son’s car after smashing in the window.

“Because the alarm went off on my car, they ran off.”

He said as soon as he became aware of what had happened he ran into the garden but the men ran off and into a waiting car.

“They drove off around the corner with the car screeching away. I thought that is them away.

“I went round the corner and there was the getaway car abandoned in the middle of the road about 200 yards away.

“They had run out of petrol. In the car were petrol cans that I think they were going to use to torch my car and my son’s car.

“They also left gloves on the road. All has been taken away by police forensics,” said the Portadown man.

“The boys were seen running away from the car towards the Loughgall Road,” he said.

The father of two said it isn’t the first time he has been attacked and believes loyalist paramilitaries were behind it.

“They have a ‘nutting squad’ who go round smashing windows and stuff,” he said.

“They are nothing but cowards.”

Asked if he had a message for them, he said: “If they have a problem with me come to me face to face and not behind masks under the cover of darkness.”

He added: “If anyone has any information, please contact the PSNI on 101 or alternatively contact a member of the community group CREATE.”

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: “Police are appealing for information following the report of criminal damage to two vehicles in the Drumcarn Gardens area of Portadown last night, Thursday 25 February.”

Inspector Leslie Badger said: “We received a report, at approximately 11.20pm, that damage had been caused to two cars that were parked outside a house in the Drumcarn Gardens area of the town.

“Significant damage, including a smashed window and dents, were caused to the vehicles.

“I am appealing to anyone with information, or who may have noticed any suspicious activity, to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 2224 of 25/02/21.”

“A report can also be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport

“Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org”

-

-

Probe after suspicious activity around motor homes across NI Read full story here

-

-

Editor’s Message:

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.