THIEVES have struck for the third time at a care home for senior citizens in Greenock.

Two youths managed to sneak into the garden at Merino Court in Drumfrochar Road and got away with expensive garden chairs worth hundreds of pounds.

It’s the second time garden equipment has been snatched from the home, while a TV was also stolen in another previous break-in.

Care home residents Kay Owen and Margaret Neill are both upset by the theft which happened at about 3pm on Sunday.

Kay, 89, said: “I like to go out in the garden and sit there when the weather is nice.

“It’s quite unfortunate for the elderly people that they have done that. The thieves have no conscience.”

Margaret, 86, added: “It’s terrible."

Sickened staff at Merino have also slammed those responsible.

Morag Hynes, the deputy manager, said: “Both myself and Maria Hughes, the manager, think that stealing off a elderly, vulnerable people is awful.

“A lot of the residents don’t manage to get out much so they enjoy spending time in the garden during the nicer weather.

“The residents are very upset.

“The whole garden area is fenced off so the teenagers must’ve jumped over the fence.”

Morag says the home will now have to raise money to buy replacement chairs.

She said: “They are expensive as they’re weather-proof.

“The whole idea was to leave them out there so the residents could enjoy going out to the garden at any time.

“But now we’re going to have to bring them inside.”

Morag says two teenage boys were spotted with the chairs going down Drumfrochar Road.

In October last year, an expensive flat-screen television was stolen at the home after thieves crept into the lounge through a window.

That theft came only weeks after three garden chairs worth a total of £750 and bags of salt were taken from the home.

Morag added: “I think for the garden chairs to be stolen for a second time is a shame.”

Sergeant Laura Stewart of Greenock police office is appealing for information in relation to the theft on Sunday.

She said: “Staff saw two teenager males aged around 13 and one of them was wearing a blue tracksuit.”

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call 101.