A man has been charged in connection with a succession of car break-ins and thefts that took place in Derry this week.

Stephen Smith, 20, of Marianus Park in the Hazelbank area of the city, faces twenty-two charges arising from car break-ins in the early hours of Tuesday, July 25.

No bail application was made due to the absence of an address.

However, charge sheets show that cars were targeted at St. Ethne’s Park, Grangemore Park, and Ard Grange.

Smith is charged with eight counts of criminal damage relating to cars, seven thefts from vehicles, five counts of interfering with vehicles, and single charges of taking a motorbike without authority, and possession of a counterfeit £10 note.

A mobile phone and cash, a Sat Nav system, and tools to the value of £450 were stolen from cars in Ard Grange.

Other items stolen included a wallet, £110 in cash, Ray-Ban sunglasses worth £300, and more cash.

Following the incident on Tuesday, PSNI Foyle released a statement on Facebook: “Following a series of vehicles being broken into during the night in the Grangemore Park and Hazelbank areas, a suspect has been identified and arrested for several Road traffic offences and attempted vehicle thefts.

“Some excellent work was carried out from the LPT Officers who spent several hours checking gardens and fields until he was finally caught.  Many thanks to everyone who contacted us, your vital information eventually helped us catch this man.

“Officers will be visiting those people who are affected by this today, I would also appeal to anyone who may have been in the area of Grangemore Park, Creggan Road or Springtown Road between 4am and 6am and may have witnessed anything to please contact Police at Strand Road on 101.”

Seamus Quigley, defending, asked for the case to be adjourned until August 7, when it is ‘likely’ a bail application will be made.

A police officer present in court indicated that police will be objecting to bail on a number of grounds.

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