Elderly couple robbed again

A war veteran and his wife in their 90s have been robbed in their County Down home for the second time in six months.

Three masked men entered the living room at Jack and Pat Mitchell's home on Bangor Road, Newtownards, at about 2130 BST on Tuesday.

They forced the pensioners into their kitchen.

One man kept watch while the other two ransacked bedrooms and the living room.

The robbers escaped with a substantial sum of money.

Earlier this year, the couple were robbed when two men pushed into the house after they answered their front door.

Jack Mitchell, 92, and his 91-year-old wife Pat have lived in the house for nearly 20 years.

Neighbour Marian Denver, who is looking after them, said the whole house had been upended.

"They're still quite shaken up - I don't honestly believe the shock has hit Pat yet, but Jack is very confused and it has upset them," she said.

Crime Prevention Officer Stephen Cherry said the people who carried out such crimes had no feelings for their victims.

"It's very difficult to come in and speak to people at this age who have been frightened," he said.

"The aftershocks of this sometimes are worse than the event itself."