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Car thieves damage fencing at second school in west Belfast

Car thieves caused damage to fencing at John Paul II Primary School before abandoning the stolen vehicle. Picture from Belfast IRSP/Facebook
Car thieves caused damage to fencing at John Paul II Primary School before abandoning the stolen vehicle. Picture from Belfast IRSP/Facebook Car thieves caused damage to fencing at John Paul II Primary School before abandoning the stolen vehicle. Picture from Belfast IRSP/Facebook

CAR thieves have damaged fencing at a second school in west Belfast after going on a rampage in a stolen car.

Damage was caused to railings at John Paul II Primary School, off the Springfield Road, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The vehicle also collided with a lamppost and road signage before it was abandoned on a grass verge outside the school just before 5.30am.

Police said the silver Lexus involved in the crash had been stolen during an earlier burglary in south Belfast.

It happened on the same night that a car was driven into the gates of St Peter's Nursery School in the lower Falls area.

Staff, pupils and teachers were greeted with the sight of a burnt-out vehicle at the entrance as they arrived for class on Tuesday morning, while a montage celebrating a 'Best Kept School' award won by St Peter's in 2011 was also damaged.

Police said that the black Renault Clio was stolen from the Lisburn Road on Monday evening before being set alight at the school at around 2.20am, and that officers had been "at the scene within minutes" however the offenders made off.

Chief Inspector Kellie McMillan said: "Thankfully no one was injured and neither the nursery school, nor the primary school had to close, potentially disrupting the children, their families and staff.

"The Auto Crime Team has been instrumental in vehicle thefts being reduced in West Belfast by 42 per cent over the last ten years. However, we must continue working together to tackle car crime."

Police have appealed for anyone with information about either incident to contact officers on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.