17/10/2018

Police Probe Over Three Banbridge Incidents

Police are investigating a series of three incidents which took place on Sunday evening and early on Monday morning and are exploring the possibility of a link.

The first crime happened between 4pm and 6.30pm on Sunday 14 October at The Bannville House Hotel.

A staff member was assaulted, before a jacket was stolen along with a safe from behind the reception area.

The safe contained cash and a large number of tickets to see Dutch European group the Vengaboys.

A man then damaged the doors of the hotel before fleeing the scene in a Honda.

The second incident in the suspected crime spree took place after midnight, when a window was smashed at an accounts office in Church square during an attempted break-in.

A man and woman were seen running across the street and into the grounds of a church, and a silver Honda Civic was found nearby.

A police spokesperson said the car smelt like it "had serious issues with the clutch".

Shortly before 3am the third incident happened at a house in Bannview Heights, where a female householder woke up to find a man coming up her stairs.

"She was shoved into a wall, causing her injuries. Her son then bravely defended his mother, managing to fight the man off, who made his escape through a downstairs window," a PSNI spokesperson said.

"During the struggle, the male suspect may have fallen and sustained some injuries. He is described as being around 6 feet tall, of large build."

The PSNI has asked the public for information relating to the following:

• Any Honda vehicles seen acting suspiciously around homes or premises in the Banbridge area or surrounding areas over the course of the evening.

• A male and female seen running or acting suspiciously around the Lurgan Road.

• Anyone with dash cam footage of anywhere between The Bannville House Hotel and Banbridge town.

• Anyone who saw a male with facial injuries anywhere near the Lurgan Road, Banbridge, around 3am.

• Anyone who sees or is offered Vengaboys tickets advertised for sale not on official sites.

(JG)

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