Thieves stole 400 litres of heating oil from a tank at a home in Primrose Park, Sion Mills. The resident, Zara Houlker, discovered the theft after returning home and finding the house cold despite the heating being on.

She checked the tank outside and saw it had been tampered with and emptied. Houlker lives in a three-bedroom house and has been unable to heat most of it since the incident, relying only on a fire in one room for warmth and hot water.

The theft occurred when she was out of the house. She has not replaced the oil due to the financial impact and has gone a month without adequate heating.

Houlker reported the theft online to police after advice from local community worker Andrew Patton. She believes the thieves watched her home to strike when it was empty.

She called for oil tank owners to stay alert and install doorbell cameras to prevent repeats.