Concerned residents in Strabane have moved to set up community watch groups to protect elderly people in the area after recent oil thefts locally.
As the cost of living crisis deepens and as winter approaches, independent councillor Raymond Barr said local people wanted to help those most vulnerable in the community.
Heating oil thefts had been reported in the Clady area while there had also been a report of two people gaining entry to an elderly woman’s house in the Ballymagorry area in recent weeks.
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“There have been a few concerning incidents recently and we are setting up these informal groups to keep an eye on some of the more vulnerable people in the community,” Cllr Barr told MyTyrone.
“We are particularly looking at elderly people as we head towards the winter nights. If all the predictions are right we are in for a winter of fuel poverty and hardship.
“What we’re looking to do is just have volunteers in each different area who can call in with elderly people once a week, just to check in with them.”
Groups have been set up in the Springhill Park area already, with more in progress for other areas of the Co Tyrone town, such as Fountain Street and the Ballycolman estate.
“We have noticed an increase in these types of crimes in the last number of years and there’s a fair possibility they may become more prevalent this winter,” the local councillor added.
“It’s vitally important that we as a community look after the most vulnerable in our community.
“There have been lots of people looking to get involved and it’s great to see the community getting behind it.”
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