Kildare Gardaí in stolen car chase after attempted burglary

A frightening suspected break-in attempt at a new Laois housing estate resulted in an overnight Garda car chase on the Bank Holiday weekend.

Mountmellick, Portlaoise and Kildare Gardaí were understood to have been involved, with an investigation now underway to find the suspect after they abandoned their stolen car and ran away.

The suspected break-in attempt took place in Grange Manor, Mountmellick on Sunday night at 3.15am. It was captured on a doorbell camera by the shocked local couple who only recently moved into their new home.

A man was recorded getting out of the driver's side of a white car on the road, wearing a balaclava and gloves and walk up to try the front door and look inside, then walk back and drive away.

Shockingly, a second attempted entry by a different person happened at the same house on Tuesday night, August 5.

The homeowner told the Leinster Express / Laois Live what happened in the first incident.

"We had only arrived home from a night out. We got a notification on our phones that someone was at the door, and clicked on live camera to see.

"My partner ran downstairs with a hurl. The man gave the handle of the door a rattle and put his hands up to look through the glass," she said.

The suspect then drove off, and the couple immediately alerted Mountmellick Gardaí.

"Two lovely guards came here really quickly, they were so reassuring. They left to get out on the road to search, and they contacted Portlaoise Garda Station to come and help. The Portlaoise Gardaí copped the car going past them on the Mountmellick road and they turned and put on the blue lights and proceeded to chase," the homeowner said.

She said that Gardaí later updated them that the white car had been stolen earlier in Maynooth.

"They said that the car went towards Mountrath to the motorway. They stood down the chase because it went the wrong way down the motorway and it wasn't safe to follow it. The chase went on until 6.30 on Monday morning. The man ran through a field and left his balaclava and gloves in the car so they are checking for DNA evidence to identify him," she said.

The next incident involved a single man, who was recorded walking up to the front door on Sunday night wearing a green hoodie to the locked side gate, looking over it and walking away. 

The homeowner says she is not afraid following the two incidents, but is taking precautions.

"I'm not afraid. I'm more angry. I'm frustrated. I'm so glad they didn't get in. My family home was broken into and ransacked a few years ago and it brought me back to that. 

"It's terrible that we can't just be happy in our new house. I'm in my own house now and locking my doors. I've lived in this town my whole life. I'm not going to let this ruin our experience," she said.

The couple are installing a house alarm and are covering up the clear glass panel which is in every front door of the new housing estate. Other neighbours in the new estate are planning the same precautions.

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"The alarm rep told us this is common in new housing estates. The Gardaí say it may be because we have a good car outside and they are looking to see if there are keys on the hall table. I think it's partly because we have no front fences.

"These are safe houses, we have a 10 foot back garden wall, a tall side gate and triple locks on the doors. You expect these things but it's not right. They are entering our property without permission, frightening people living in their homes," the homeowner said.

She is hopeful that the man in the balaclava will be caught, and awaits a further update from the Gardaí.

Laois Gardaí confirm that an investigation is ongoing.