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Burglary, petty theft and the distress it causes

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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.

Burgalry and petty theft 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.


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Keepsmiling

Keepsmiling

Hi Mary, I am so sorry to hear about your story.

All I can say is chin up and if the Police have any decency they will read your story and make changes.

Its no wonder crime figures are falling, nobody can be bothered to report crimes becuase the police don't care.
06/02/14 Keepsmiling
1
Mary Ashford

Mary Ashford

I suffered a burglary last week nothing that I could see was taken, since this is a flat basically with black sacks of soft toys and boxes of crockery etc. I am moving from this flat and thank god I had taken out already what I deemed to be personally valuable to me. I rang 999 and two police officers attended. I am 66 of frail health and how I was treated by one of the officers was unbelievable. Intimidation innuendos towards myself I suffered the lot. At the time I was disorientated and in shock, confused and probably didn't answer his questions as quickly to his liking. At one stage I said that I didn't feel well and just walked away out of his car. All the week after I have felt so ill, and did not go back to the police station until a few days after, were I was told that I could not get a crime number as the controller felt that no crime had taken place. I was horrified to say the least. So, this is how it goes. An old woman of 66 years branded a liar then in theory who was it who kicked off my front door, hoping to find some valuables inside, and must have been well disappointed to just find soft toys etc lol, but hold on a minute what way does a police officers mind work? I was not insured at this flat only at the new property I have just recently bought???? I must have then in their minds at 66 with a heart condition, kicked off a flat door I am renting and already moving out from and with the property not insured and having to sit by an open door space all night in the cold for what purpose I do not know.
06/02/14 Mary Ashford
-1
Anne

Anne

Hi there just read your story, similar thing has happened to me, and from speaking to other people, it seems they have had the same experience after have work done to their homes, please can you contact me on 0208 575 3530, would really appreciate it, Anne
07/02/12 Anne
3
Freddie

Freddie

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!
06/05/11 Freddie
9
Boblet

Boblet

The police are useless, now they have been given the perfect excuse. "We are undermanned” The only answer will be Vigilantes.
06/05/11 Boblet
2
Stop Thief!

Stop Thief!

p.s. (that is the netherton, near dudley, west midlands, btw!)
06/05/11 Stop Thief!
-7
Stop Thief!

Stop Thief!

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!
06/05/11 Stop Thief!
-2
Boblet

Boblet

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.
14/01/11 Boblet
5
DSG

DSG

Who steals doorbells? A...doorbell collector?A...idiot who has nothing better to do with his life? I prefer Option 3.
28/11/10 DSG
-1
Acejohn

Acejohn

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.
10/02/10 Acejohn
-5
dannydee

dannydee

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
27/01/10 dannydee
2
Mary

Mary

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
13/06/09 Mary
-6
It's a dark world

It's a dark world

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.
27/03/09 It's a dark world
-4
Pete

Pete

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.
13/03/09 Pete
-6
I will protect my family and m

I will protect my family and m

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.
13/03/09 I will protect my family and m
-2

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