ALERT neighbours helped Gardai nab three raiders who had stolen over €1,000 worth of jewellery from a house in the Ballygar area last week.

The three men – understood to be of East European origin – had raided and ransacked the house at Corracoolia, Ballyforan, Ballygar, on Friday last shortly before 4pm.

However earlier in the day, members of the local Neighbourhood Watch had noted the registration number of a strange car that they had seen in the area.

Shortly after the raid was discovered, Gardai in Mountbellew stopped the Audi car, on the basis of the information supplied by the local people.

They arrested three men and recovered goods and jewellery taken from the house.

Three men are due to appear in Harristown Court, Castlerea, on Friday in relation to the arrests.

A Garda spokesman praised the alertness and speed of local people in contacting Gardaí about the car they had seen in the area.

“It just shows what a massive difference it can make when local people are the eyes and ears of the Gardaí.

“We always encourage people to report anything suspicious they see, or any strange vehicles they spot in an area.

“So what, if it turns out to be false alarm, but the real bonus is when it leads to the detention of criminals,” said a Garda spokesman.

See full story in this week's Connacht Tribune.