Northern Ireland

Plastic and barrels of glue stolen from playground renovation site in west Belfast

Police have appealed for information after plastic and barrels of glue were stolen from a playground renovation building site at Upper Dunmurry Lane in west Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell
Police have appealed for information after plastic and barrels of glue were stolen from a playground renovation building site at Upper Dunmurry Lane in west Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell Police have appealed for information after plastic and barrels of glue were stolen from a playground renovation building site at Upper Dunmurry Lane in west Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell

POLICE last night appealed for information after a council-owned playground site on the outskirts of west Belfast was targeted by thieves who stole plastic and barrels of glue.

The play park, which is currently closed and under construction at Upper Dunmurry Lane was targeted between lunchtime on Saturday, August 31 and 7.30am on Monday.

A large quantity of heavy equipment was stolen including 2,500kgs of plastic and 3,220kgs of glue, which had been stored in black barrels.

A PSNI spokesman said: "This theft would have taken time, it would have required heavy machinery and significant manpower.

"Did you see anyone on the site during these hours? Did you see lorries going on and off the site?"

Sinn Féin councillor Seanna Walsh said he believed the playground would open next month, despite the theft.

Mr Walsh said he "can't imagine" what the items stolen could be used for.

"It is one of a number of different projects that we have been developing up there and any of this type of behaviour doesn't look well for the future," he said.

"At the same time, it shouldn't hold the project back too much".