Car set on fire in arson attack on Navan street

Navan Gardai are investigating an arson attack on a vehicle parked at Church Hill, Navan, in the early hours of Sunday morning. A blue Audi A4 was set on fire at around 2.30am and Navan Fire Service were called to the scene. The fire was quickly brought under control but it is understood that extensive damage was caused to the undercarriage and rear seating of the vehicle. Gardai investigations into the incident are continuing and CCTV is being examined in the area. The theft of 15 kegs of Guinness from the Old Bridge Inn pub at around 8am on Monday morning is also being investigated. A white Ford Transit van was seen activing suspiciously in the area and Gardai are appealing to anyone who noticed anything in the area to contact them at Navan Garda Station. There have been a spate of break-ins to vehicles over the past week in the Navan District and Gardai are once again advising people not to leave handbags or any valuables in their vehicles. On Wednesday of last week, two cars parked at the Hill of Slane and Balrath Woods were targetted. Between 2pm and 6pm, a black Volvo car hired by American tourists was broken into. A handbag containing a small amount of cash and passports were taken. At around 4pm, a grey Mercedes Benz was broken into at Balrath Woods, while the owner was out walking. A mobile phone was taken from the vehicle. Two further break-ins occurred to vehicles parked at Balrath Woods on Saturday. A silver Renault Scenic was broken into between 11.30am and 1pm and a handbag containing €50 was taken. A black Skoda Octavia was broken into around the same time and a handbag containing a small amount of cash and a mobile phone was taken. The theft of a small quantity of tools from a Toyota Camry parked at St Mary's Church between 4am and 5am on Sunday, 20th February is also being investigated. A Sat Nav was taken in a theft from a Volkswagen Passat at Beaufort Abbey, Navan, at around 10am on Monday morning. Trim Gardai are advising shop keepers to be aware of a scam that has come to light in recent weeks. On 12th February, two incidents were reported in the town and in one case the man managed to get some cash but in the other case did not. A man went into a shop and paid for something small with a value of less than €5 by presenting a €100 note. As the assistant was giving him his change, the man took smaller money from his pocket and handed back the change to get his €100 back but unknown to the assistant he took €50 from the cash before handing it back. In the other incident the same day, a similar attempt to steal money was unsuccessful. The man is described as being middle aged with an English accent. Gardai say there have been a lot of reports of similar incidents in the Eastern region including Meath and Kildare. Meanwhile, Gardai are investigating a daytime burglary at a house in Rathcore, Enfield, on Friday, 18th February. The break-in occurred between 11am and 2.30pm and entry was gained by a rear window. A quantity of cash was stolen from the house. Gardai are appealing to anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the area at the time to contact Enfield or Trim Garda Stations.