Burglary, petty theft and the distress it causes
|
Burglary, petty theft and stupid pranks, that's my gripe for today. Some idiot has stolen the doorbell from our front door. Why? I just don't understand people who take things that don't belong to them. We work hard for the things we have and look after our home and garden. It now means we have to buy another doorbell. Things are tough enough as it is having to cope with burglary and petty theft. Thieves should get off their backsides and work for a living. We had our home burgled a few years ago and it cost me a great deal of distress. In the end we had to move. I couldn't sleep and set up elaborate traps for any potential burglar. It left me, a single working mum, terrified. All the jewellery given to me over the years by my mother, grandmother and loved ones gone. They even stole the DVD, my child's films, camera and more. A week before I had my loft insulated and draught proofing done on windows and doors. Now, when I have 'people' in to do jobs I ensure that I have family around upstairs and down to keep an eye on things. I can't prove if it was them and to this day wonder if the police ever investigated the firm concerned or linked it to other thefts in the area. |
|
|
I was unlucky. The flat below me was empty and they used a crow bar to enter my flat when my son and I were at a friend's birthday party one cold December evening. November and December are the months favoured by thieves - it gets dark early which presents them with endless opportunities. Take precautions when you go out. Leave lights on and tell your neighbours. Lock side gates. Lock and secure garages/windows. Don't leave items lying about in your car. Have an alarm installed. |
|
|
Merry Christmas everyone and look after what you've worked so hard for. |
|
Comments from visitors
Sort:
Burglary etc. Is one area (one of the only ones though) where the Americans have it right. If you enter another persons home you automatically surrender all your rights. At least you can then protect your home without the fear of prosecution. I don't agree with being able to shoot people but a bloody good hiding wouldn't hurt them.
The secret is to make your home harder to enter than your neighbours. It may not sound very nice but when push comes to shove you'd rather they were burgled than you!
The secret is to make your home harder to enter than your neighbours. It may not sound very nice but when push comes to shove you'd rather they were burgled than you!
+3
Click to rate 
Report
The police are useless, now they have been given the perfect excuse. "We are undermanned” The only answer will be Vigilantes.
-2
Click to rate Report
p.s. (that is the netherton, near dudley, west midlands, btw!)
-6
Click to rate Report
In Netherton is a guy about 6', wiry build, in his 40s, bald patches, sometimes shaves his head and face, sometimes lets it grow to change his appearance to fool folk, and when you see him out and about you can bet he's either stealing or spotting something to come back and loot. Thinks he's real sly. He's unemployed and has been since long before the economy got bad. He's usually by himself and gets out early in the mornings (5:00 - 6:00 a.m.) before many can see what he's doing. He's usually unkempt and shifty, always looking over his shoulder, changes jackets and coats often. Although he has been reported by more than several people, he is still at it and is always casing places so if you live in the area and see him stealing, don't try and stop him yourself. Call the police! That is what they're FOR! And consider writing your MP as well. If they get ENOUGH calls, hopefully it will urge them to take action to put this over-confident sneak-thief out of business!
+1
Click to rate Report
I had my rubbish bins stolen, the gray one & the black one. The council insist I place the bin where It is easliy accessable to the bin man, unfortunatly it is also accessable to the bin bandits.
+3
Click to rate Report
Who steals doorbells? A...doorbell collector?A...idiot who has nothing better to do with his life? I prefer Option 3.
-1
Click to rate Report
The law in this country is leaning more & more towards the criminal. Burglarly is a despicable crime with far reaching consequences for the victim. It seems it our Human Right to be burgled.
How long will it be before we are forced to leave our house lights switched on to prevent a burglar injuring itself in the event we are targetted by one? We should have a "make my day law" like the US - the unlimited wrath of homeowners would be a far greater deterent than that offered by the legal freternity.
How long will it be before we are forced to leave our house lights switched on to prevent a burglar injuring itself in the event we are targetted by one? We should have a "make my day law" like the US - the unlimited wrath of homeowners would be a far greater deterent than that offered by the legal freternity.
-3
Click to rate Report
Actually the summer months are when burglars are most active, it has nothing to do with the dark as statistally a burglary is most likely to happen during the daytime when most people are at work.
The summer months mean it is hot and people leave windows and patio doors open, allowing plenty of opportunity to "Do A Creeper" ie enter the premises whilst you are in bed sleeping
The summer months mean it is hot and people leave windows and patio doors open, allowing plenty of opportunity to "Do A Creeper" ie enter the premises whilst you are in bed sleeping
-1
Click to rate Report
32 days after moving to our new home in a new town we were burgaled by mindless lazy **********, morons who think taking someone's else's things is better than buying your own.
5 delinquents broke in using a garden fork to smash a window brining with them pillowcases to haul away what they chose to take. I have no idea why we were chosen or who these thugs are or what they look like. Not content to use thereown car they took mine as well as there car wasn't big enough. in all £8000 pounds in damage and loss occured. Both my children are medically challenged. I am at a loss how to give them there things back. Criminal Compensation doesn't help you unless you were physically hurt so who helps to replace these things? the Court may well order costs but that doesn't help as the offender's are given time to pay and most find excuses. I'm a single mum on benefits due to a progressive illness, who helps to replace these items that these thugs took? I can honestly say I hate these five thugs and wish them nothing but grief for the rest of there lives.
5 delinquents broke in using a garden fork to smash a window brining with them pillowcases to haul away what they chose to take. I have no idea why we were chosen or who these thugs are or what they look like. Not content to use thereown car they took mine as well as there car wasn't big enough. in all £8000 pounds in damage and loss occured. Both my children are medically challenged. I am at a loss how to give them there things back. Criminal Compensation doesn't help you unless you were physically hurt so who helps to replace these things? the Court may well order costs but that doesn't help as the offender's are given time to pay and most find excuses. I'm a single mum on benefits due to a progressive illness, who helps to replace these items that these thugs took? I can honestly say I hate these five thugs and wish them nothing but grief for the rest of there lives.
0
Click to rate Report
I have to say I was burgled recently sad to say theu think I left the key in the door, but the Police were great they came within a few hours and just after they left the scene of crimes people came to finger print the house
0
Click to rate Report
I have been burgled and had my car broken into a few times, I reported it but all I got was a crime reference number I did not see any evidence of an investigation into the crimes.
But having said that if they are brought before the courts the judge is usually so out of touch the thing he calls a sentancing is just an unfunny joke.
I should imagine the police get fed up of this also, I mean if they do actually catch someone then the criminal does not really get real punishment from the courts. You know it is only a matter of time before they go an steal again.
It is a shame we do not deport the criminals to a penal colony anymore.
I lost my flat because of theives once, because the rent was due that evening and a months worth of rent money was on the side waiting to pay the landlord. but this was taken of course. I then lost my job and was unable to get another months rent money. I ended up living on the streets for a while until I managed to get another job.
But having said that if they are brought before the courts the judge is usually so out of touch the thing he calls a sentancing is just an unfunny joke.
I should imagine the police get fed up of this also, I mean if they do actually catch someone then the criminal does not really get real punishment from the courts. You know it is only a matter of time before they go an steal again.
It is a shame we do not deport the criminals to a penal colony anymore.
I lost my flat because of theives once, because the rent was due that evening and a months worth of rent money was on the side waiting to pay the landlord. but this was taken of course. I then lost my job and was unable to get another months rent money. I ended up living on the streets for a while until I managed to get another job.
-1
Click to rate Report
It's a dark world - 27-Mar-09 02:01
Having arrested a few burgalars in my time, the one thing I found ironic with one burglar was he went ape s**t when his house was burgled, all the sentiments expressed below were voiced by him, even to asking why we were not out there catching this low life.
I still reckon what goes round comes round.
I still reckon what goes round comes round.
-3
Click to rate Report
Really, I didn't know. It just meant that I slept better! Thanks for the warning. It means I can't make myself safe in my own home without being penalised. What is the world coming too? Should I just leave the front door open and invite these people into my home to take what I work so hard for? No way.
-2
Click to rate Report
I will protect my family and m - 13-Mar-09 19:40
If you have set up elaborate traps for a burglar you may be committing a crime yourself.
+2
Click to rate Report
No Man Traps - 11-Jan-09 15:42
I was woken just under 2 years ago by a thief that inadvertantly walked into my bedroom. The best part is that as he was moping around I switched my light on, he actually screamed like a girl and proceeded to run out the house into a car.
When I ran downstairs I noticed dog muck and the stench of human muck too. The police were unable to charge him due to "lack of evidence", but from what I was told, they pretty much caught him the same night and when searching his house, found **** stained trousers and trainers with dog muck......not enough evidence...hah!.
When I ran downstairs I noticed dog muck and the stench of human muck too. The police were unable to charge him due to "lack of evidence", but from what I was told, they pretty much caught him the same night and when searching his house, found **** stained trousers and trainers with dog muck......not enough evidence...hah!.
-2
Click to rate Report
Its always very difficult when you've been burgaled. Believe me I know. I have been burgaled around 5 times, ranging from a few items to all my belongings of any value, including my duvet cover!
Unfortunately these sort of people will always exist so the best you can do is try and take as many preventative measures as possibe. Get good insurance for a start which will replace old for new without having to show receipts. Its very difficult to produce receipts for things you nought years ago. Also buy yourself a safe and store some precious items in there like realy expensive jewellery or photos of your chidren etc. Its annoying to have to do so but it could save you a lot of stress!
Unfortunately these sort of people will always exist so the best you can do is try and take as many preventative measures as possibe. Get good insurance for a start which will replace old for new without having to show receipts. Its very difficult to produce receipts for things you nought years ago. Also buy yourself a safe and store some precious items in there like realy expensive jewellery or photos of your chidren etc. Its annoying to have to do so but it could save you a lot of stress!
-2
Click to rate Report
We had an attempted burglary at our house at the end of August this year. They didn't get in, just damaged the patio door handles. That left us shaken enough so haven't a clue what we'd have been like had they got in. We had a dummy alarm on our property and that evening we bought a high-tech alarm over the internet which arrived the next day and use this all the time now. There are sensors on the main exterior doors so that when they're opened, they emit a beep. The patio doors had only been installed a few weeks prior, they'd have got in through our old ones for sure as they were pretty much rotten.
The day we discovered the break in we were terrified and had very little sleep, the smallest noise had me up on my feet. We left a few lights on in the house that night but doubt it'd have made much difference considering the attempted burglary happened between 2.30pm and 4.00pm. At the time, there was nothing of value in the downstairs of the house as we were renovating so we consider ourselves very lucky. We could've easily had our things we'd worked hard for stolen in a matter of minutes, doesn't bare thinking about.
The local police were very helpful and they caught the 16 year old responsible for ours, and 28 other break ins around our town. It was a relief when they told us but you still have to be vigilent.
The day we discovered the break in we were terrified and had very little sleep, the smallest noise had me up on my feet. We left a few lights on in the house that night but doubt it'd have made much difference considering the attempted burglary happened between 2.30pm and 4.00pm. At the time, there was nothing of value in the downstairs of the house as we were renovating so we consider ourselves very lucky. We could've easily had our things we'd worked hard for stolen in a matter of minutes, doesn't bare thinking about.
The local police were very helpful and they caught the 16 year old responsible for ours, and 28 other break ins around our town. It was a relief when they told us but you still have to be vigilent.
+2
Click to rate Report
Sort:
