Elderly couple tied up and left badly shaken in terrifying armed burglary

An elderly man and woman were left badly shaken after masked intruders tied them up during a terrifying overnight burglary at a home in County Londonderry.

The ordeal unfolded in the early hours of Saturday morning, 23 May, at a property in the Formoyle Road area of Macosquin, where a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s were confronted inside their own home by two masked men.

Police said the couple were ordered to hand over money before the intruders stole mobile phones, a watch and the keys to a vehicle parked nearby.

The suspects then fled the scene in the victims’ blue Nissan Juke, leaving the elderly pair distressed after the traumatic incident.

Couple targeted inside their own home

Detective Inspector Lenaghan said police received the report at around 1:15am.

He said:

“At around 1:15am, it was reported that two masked men entered a property in the area.

“It was reported that a man in his 70s and a woman in their 60s were tied up by the men and ordered to hand over money.

“The men left the property, taking two mobile phones, a watch and the keys for a blue Nissan Juke that was parked nearby.”

The stolen Nissan Juke was later seen in the Moore Road area of Derry/Londonderry shortly after 2am.

Police have not said how the men gained entry to the property, and enquiries remain ongoing.

Victims left traumatised after frightening ordeal

While neither victim suffered physical injuries, detectives said both were left badly shaken by what happened.

The incident is likely to cause significant concern within the local community, particularly given the age of the victims and the violent nature of the burglary.

Police are continuing efforts to trace the suspects and recover the stolen vehicle.

Police appeal for information

Detective Inspector Lenaghan appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

He said:

“Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to this incident, to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference number 99 23/05/26.”

Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the Formoyle Road area of Macosquin, or who saw the blue Nissan Juke in the hours after the burglary, is being urged to contact police.

People can also submit information online using the PSNI non-emergency reporting form at: https://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or online at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish the movements of the suspects before and after the burglary.