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DkIT Students in shock after knife attack at College Heights - Student President condemns attack
TWO female students are in a "total state of shock" after two men - one of whom was armed with a knife - broke into their house and terrorised them.
The students were sitting in the living room of their College Heights house in Dundalk when the men burst into the property via a rear window in the early hours of Monday morning, at around 12.50am.
The terrified young women, who have very little English, ran upstairs and locked themselves in a bedroom but the raiders kicked the door in. One of the men stood guard watching the girls, while the other ransacked the house. There was a third occupant of the house at the time but no one was injured. The men then escaped with some electronic goods including two mobile phones and a Sanyo laptop.
Originally from China, the students had moved to Dundalk earlier this summer to complete a Beginner's English course before commencing their studies at DkIT this autumn.
According to DkIT Student Union President James Clarke, the incident was "very, very unfortunate". He added that DkIT Students' Union "condemns the actions wholly".
"This marks a new level of crime against students. I implore anyone with any information relating to the incident to contact An Garda Sochna," said Mr Clarke.
"Typically, students have been victims of opportunistic theft when they have left a window open and their property has been robbed. This is a worrying development."
He added: "The girls have been offered counselling and the Students' Union has let them know that if they need anything we will do our best to help them.
"I'd like to imagine that they will stay on. As far as I know they have no plans to go home. I am also looking to run a safety awareness week to encourage students to secure their houses, doors and windows. "If they have alarms in their houses, they should set them. I'd also like to set up a neighbourhood watch type scheme on campus."
Meanwhile, DkIT President Denis Cummins has warned students to be vigilant and to think safe on their return to college this month.
Students have begun to move back into the area in recent days ahead of the start of their courses later this month and that volume is expected to increase dramatically in the coming week or so.
Students are deemed to be easy targets at this time of year as many of them have money saved from over the summer months and can be unfamiliar with the area.
Speaking to The Dundalk Democrat about Monday's attack, Mr Cummins said: "I'd advise all students to be vigilant and to be careful. This type of incident is most unusual though. We've over 5,000 students here and this sort of incident doesn't represent the general experience."
Gardai are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information in relation to the incident to contact them at Dundalk Garda Station by calling 042-9335577.
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Weather for Dundalk
Thursday 17 May 2012
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