Front door of Laois shop kicked in by thieves

A shop in Stradbally and a community centre in Vicarstown were targeted by thieves last week.  

Criminals kicked in the front door of a shop and stole cash and vapes in Stradbally last Thursday morning. 

The Grandstand shop on Main Street in Stradbally was targeted in the early hours of Thursday, June 5 at around 1.30am. 

Portlaoise gardaí said the front door was kicked open and cigarettes, cash and vapes were stolen.

Gardaí said no suspects have yet been identified and they are appealing for witnesses or for anyone with information or CCTV footage from the area to contact them. 

Owner of The Grandstand, Sylvester Phelan, praised the gardaí for the manner in which they responded to the crime.

“It is never nice and a bit of a shock really when it happens,” Mr Phelan said.

He now intends to review his security in the wake of the break in.  He said it was worrying knowing that there are people who “get up and go out to do this every day” almost like a job.

 He said the “sad reality” was that crime is paying for some individuals.

“The guards have been really good, we are embarrassed the attention we are getting,” he said. 

He explained that gardaí had been thorough in their examination of the property. 

Mr Phelan said the break in wouldn't deter him from continuing to operate as an independent retailer in the town. 

Meanwhile, Michael Fennelly said there was a break in at Vicarstown Community Centre on the same night that The Grandstand was targeted. 

“They broke a lock on a door and they seemed to be able to open the Yale locks,” said Mr Fennelly. 

He said the Community Centre will now have to review their security arrangements. The intruders broke the alarm as well as opening a number of locks and the community centre was now facing a bill to repair the damages. The bar is card only, so there was no cash on the premises, he explained.  

Mr Fennelly said it was a shame to see people target “a facility that is put in place to better the community.” 

He said Vicarstown Community Centre was a social hub for the community and a place where local people can meet up and enjoy events. It hosts bingo every Friday and is used by a number of local sporting organisations in the area. 

He explained that the bar, which is cashless, was introduced after the village’s two pubs were closed in the last ten years.

Security was to the fore of Mr Fennelly's mind. “It is something we will have to think about now, probably look at putting in security cameras,” he said. 

Local Cllr Paschal McEvoy said he was aware of a few incidents in the area last week. He said a man was captured on CCTV checking the doors of houses in Cill Beg Manor, Stradbally. Although a good quality image of a man was circulating online, Cllr McEvoy said he didn't believe anyone had been identified and he suspected the culprit might not be from the locality. 

Acknowledging the “worrying trend” in relation to the criminality,  Cllr McEvoy said there hadn’t been a pattern of serious crime leading up to the incidents.

“People need to be vigilant and always make sure they lock their cars and houses,” he advised. He also urged people to check in on their elderly or vulnerable neighbours to make  sure that they are alright. He said people, particularly the elderly, can be unnerved by such incidents.  

Cllr McEvoy praised the gardaí in Stradbally and said “they are very much on the ground” and active around  the town. 

READ ALSO: Man was intoxicated and aggresive in Portlaoise 

He urged anyone with information in relation to the crimes to contact gardaí. 

Portlaoise Gardaí have appealed to anyone with information to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100.