Man charged after woman confronts intruder inside her car in Ballymena town centre

A man has been charged after a woman says she caught him inside her parked car in Ballymena town centre, prompting a police investigation and a warning to motorists to ensure their vehicles are locked.

The incident happened on Broadway Avenue on Wednesday, 8 July, where the woman’s car was parked outside her workplace in full view of nearby offices and commercial buildings.

According to the woman, she discovered a man inside her vehicle and immediately confronted him before he walked away.

She later checked the inside of the car and discovered that her belongings appeared to have been disturbed.

Woman says purse had been searched

Sharing details of the incident, the woman urged other motorists to remain vigilant.

She said:

“Anyone parked in Ballymena town centre should make sure their cars are locked.

“I caught a man, who was over 6ft tall with fair hair, wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts, and with scars on his face, inside my car. Fortunately, I caught him while he was still in the vehicle and confronted him, asking what he was doing.

“After he walked away, I checked inside my car and found my Revolut card on the floor of the passenger footwell, while boxes of tablets had been moved around.

“He had clearly been through my purse and appears to have dropped my Revolut card when I caught him inside the car.

“Keep an eye out and make sure your cars are locked.

“This happened on Broadway Avenue while my car was parked outside work and in full view of multiple buildings and offices, so the person involved clearly wasn’t too concerned about hiding what he was doing.”

The woman did not report any financial loss in her statement, but said the apparent disturbance of items inside the vehicle suggested it had been searched.

Police confirm charge

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that officers investigated a report of suspicious behaviour in the Broadway Avenue area of Ballymena on Wednesday, 8 July.

A PSNI spokesperson said:

“Police investigating a report of suspicious behaviour in the Broadway Avenue area of Ballymena on Wednesday, 8th July have charged a man to court.

“The 39-year-old has been charged with interference with vehicles, and is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 30th July.

“As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.”

Interference with vehicles is a criminal offence that can involve entering or interfering with a vehicle without lawful authority.

The case is now due before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court later this month, where the charge will be considered in the normal course of legal proceedings.