There are growing fears that local snitches are being used by outside criminals to target isolated homes again this winter – amid reports of a major upsurge in rural burglaries over the last few weeks.

Parts of North Galway have been particularly targeted during night-time raids on mainly vacant houses, with cash and jewellery the target – leaving isolated families feeling vulnerable to thieving gangs this winter. There was also a burglary reported in Maam – showing that the concentration is on both sides of the Corrib.

The North Galway area saw more than a dozen break-ins over the past couple of weeks; it is understood that at least two of houses were occupied at the time and the masked raiders were chased from the properties.

Houses in Belclare, Caherlistrane, Mountbellew, Newbridge and Menlough were broken into and in a number of cases the electricity supply was cut off to these homes.

Some of the owners were holidaying outside the country, others were visiting relatives while one couple were attending a neighbour’s wedding when their home was ransacked.

“I am convinced that the gangs are working off local information being provided to them,” said Cllr Michael Connolly (FF) from Moylough. “There have been a number of suspicious vehicles seen in the area in recent weeks. It’s the time of year for it.”

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