Family's presents stolen from under tree in Melton home while they slept upstairs on Christmas Day morning
Burglars stole a family's presents from under their tree while they slept upstairs on Christmas Day morning.
When grandmother Sue Browne went downstairs at her Melton home and saw one of her presents lying near the door to the hallway, she thought she was the victim of a prank.
But when she was joined by partner Chris and grandson Kierran, 18, the full impact of what had happened sunk in.
Almost every one of the 61-year-old's presents from her lorry driver partner and other family members had gone.
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Sue, who has lived in her Rossiter Close semi-detached home for two years, said: "When Chris came downstairs I asked where my presents were and he said 'under the tree'. Then my grandson said 'Where have all the bottles gone?'.
"When we realised what had happened, we were all devastated and it definitely ruined our Christmas."
Among the £250 haul of stolen items were a digital camera, bottle of Poison perfume, Sony clock radio, £20 of M&Co vouchers, a fragrance lamp, slippers, CDs, three photo frames, a bottle of port and a bottle of wine.
The stolen presents were all for Sue. It's thought the burglars could have been disturbed as some presents in a sack, which Sue had received from her grandchildren, were left behind.
Sue said Chris had heard a rustling noise at about 4am but thought it must have been her grandson who had gone downstairs, and thought nothing more of it.
She said: "Chris's presents were upstairs. He was devastated because of what had happened to mine and he couldn't bring himself to open his.
"We tried to make light of it but none of us could eat our Christmas dinner. We all just felt so sick and upset.
"We all just sat there looking at one another. None of us knew what to say.
"I think I had a Brussels sprout and a mouthful of potato, but I didn't really eat anything that day.
"I can't imagine what people who would do something like that could be thinking. I felt violated."
Sue said she was hoping the new year would bring her a change of luck.
Last January, she ended up in hospital for four days with a broken sternum after a head-on car crash returning with Chris from her daughter's home in Wiltshire.
She said: "They had to cut the roof off the car to get me out. I fractured my sternum and was covered in bruises from head to foot. I'm hoping for some better luck this year."
A man has been arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail pending further inquiries.
Anyone with any information about the burglary is asked to call police on 101.
Comments
by JayBe11
Thursday, January 03 2013, 6:53PM
“@ mick233 & daveb0360
Due process. Let's not assume that because someone's been arrested it he is necessarily guilty.”
by daveb0360
Thursday, January 03 2013, 12:28PM
“I think it's just as despicable that the authorities have let this low life out on bail............it's just WRONG.”
by buschka
Thursday, January 03 2013, 2:45AM
“This is LOW absolutely LOW. Any theft is bad but stealing from a working class family is disgusting. Only crumbs of comfort is that it could have been worse. Some families have lost ppl in car crashes ect over Christmas. Still a horrible experience. God I hate thieves”
by mick233
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 10:50PM
“Awful thing to happen. I notice that the police don't want to spoil the offender's Chrismas-just give him a pat on the back and send him off to rob more houses!”
by City_C10
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 11:21AM
“I cannot imagine anything worse than what has happened to this family. I know from experience being burgled, at anytime is a truly awful feeling, but on Christmas Eve, it is the lowest of lows. I hope the family can be strong and not let the people who did this crime to them destroy their family and Christmas. If I were they, I would re-buy the presents and have (for example) a time when they are all together as their Christmas. I hope the local police can work with locals to try to prevent these sorts of crimes. My best wishes to the family.”