Kildare family left heartbroken after burglary

A CHAIN of burglaries that occurred in south Kildare recently left many homeowners fearful for the threat of burglaries in the run-up to Christmas.

One elderly victim in Ballitore had his house “ransacked” in the early hours of Sunday 8 December.

The widowed man, aged in his 70s, arrived home after a family function to find that someone had broken in, leaving the place in a total mess.

His daughter said: “The house was just ransacked. They got into the back bedroom window, and he just popped the window and got in through. Climbed in with muddy boots, leaving footprints throughout the whole house.” She explained that the burglars had pulled over the rugs, emptied drawers and wardrobes, scattering their contents all over the ground.

The woman said her father keeps several sentimental items belonging to his late wife, including clothes and jewellery in the bedroom.

“They just pulled everything out, all of her belongings,” she said.

“Any of the family photographs … they just pulled them out and walked all over them.” She believes some of her late mother’s jewellery has been taken, but that it is hard to know currently with the state the house was left in.

The woman said it was heartbreaking it is to see the family home that her parents worked so hard to be disrespected like that.

“They (the burglars) don’t have any sort of care for anybody who lives in the house,” she said. “It’s total disrespect.” The burglary had affected the whole family and the woman hoped that something can be done for her father, and that the burglar is caught.

She also urged homeowners to stay vigilant to burglary crimes and to watch out for neighbours.

Gardaí are investigating a series of burglaries that occurred at residential properties across South Kildare on 6 December 2025.

The first incident happened in Castledermot, where a home was broken into between 2.30pm and 8.15pm.

A second burglary was reported in Moone on the same day, taking place between 2.50pm and 9.00pm.

Later that evening, gardaí also received a report of another break-in at a property in Athy, which occurred between 5.15pm and 1.45am.

A concerned neighbour to one of the targeted houses wrote online: ‘Homes where people lived alone were mainly targeted. These criminals came looking for money and jewellery, and when they didn’t find any, they ransacked the homes instead.

‘It is hard to comprehend how anyone could show such disregard for the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of others.’ Gardaí have not yet confirmed whether the incidents are linked and are appealing for anyone who may have noticed suspicious activity in the areas at the times specified to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact their local garda station.