Ziggy Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 My mum and dad got burgled . They came home after being out shopping this morning, and didn't notice at first that one of the doors to their flat had been forced open, and they got in and got a bit puzzled that the lights were on, as they always turn everything off, then started noticing things thrown about, and got into their bedroom to find the whole contents of their wardrobe trashed all around the place... Fortunately, for their safety, the burglar/s had already gone. Mum and dad don't have much and don't keep much of value at home, so all that was taken is a wallet containing roughly 30 euros (they live in Brussels), and they are still going through their little safebox, which had been opened but thankfully contains mainly personal documents rather than valuables. Their camera and mobile phone, as well as tv and all such equipment, were left untouched. The money they had hidden for their xmas dinner out and other xmas spendings was well hidden, and not found by the burglars. My guess is whoever broke in was looking for easy cash or such things that people might be piling in their bedrooms around xmas (cash gifts or stuff like that)... Mum and dad are obviously quite shaken, and somehow the scary thing is that their door was broken into, but the main door to the flat building was not, and there are four or five flats in the same building. Now mum and dad are suspecting people in the same block of flats. My thoughts is that maybe someone didn't close the front door properly... The police came and apparently immediately suggested 'it's gypsies... they always break in places', which I find a little odd... I don't remember gypsies near mum and dad, and if there were I'd be a little careful about pointing the finger... thieves are not, as far as I'm aware, solely present in gypsy communities... Mum and dad have never been burgled before... I guess they are lucky nothing much was taken, but they are old and the stress is already bad enough... dad is 77, mum is 66. I hope this doesn't spoil their xmas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 How terrible for them, what an awful thing to happen I was burgled last year and it was harrowing and heartbreaking so your parents have my utmost sympathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 How upsetting for them. The burglar most likely got access to the building by following someone in or 'being buzzed in' accidently by the occupants of another flat if it's one of those where you can remotely unlock the main entrance after speaking into an intercom. I would have thought it was unlikely to be another occupant as that would be a bit too close to home and they'd be running the risk of being ercognised coming out of the wrong flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Thats awful, I'm glad the burglars weren't still there. My mum was burgled about 10 years ago, it really frightened her. My mum's neighbours actually saw them take mum's tv out of the house but just assumed she was in at the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggquisite Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 My sympathy's too! Same happened to me a few years ago when I lived on my own. Arrived home to find a crowbar just inside the door way !! Lost a lot at the time, it was heart wrenching. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 My goodness, I hope they are OK Ziggy. Do they live near you? There has been a spate of similar break-ins here with the emphasis on easy cash - they were perpetrated by young drug addicts looking for easy cash rather then things they would have to seell. Please tell them to be careful as the burglars may re-visit to collect other goods. Best wishes to you and yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 A timely reminder and it just shows it happens everywhere I am leaving a light on at the back of the house at present as well as the front. I may sort out that spare timer as well so the light comes on and off regularly. I hope your parents aren't too shaken Ziggy. How odd that the Police on the continent blame gipsies, we are always the ones seen as the xenophobes of Europe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Im so sorry this has happened to your Mom & Dad, I remember gypsies being bamed for a bout of thefts but in fact the local vagabonds knew the gypsies were around and took the opportunity to commit lots of crimes that at first were blamed on the gypsy community. I hope your Mom & Dad are OK, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted December 5, 2009 Author Share Posted December 5, 2009 Thank you for the sympathy everyone... I've had updates on this, and it's actually worrying me quite a bit now... mum and dad mentioned to me before a few instances when they suspected the people living above them to have dealings into drugs (don't want to get into details, not savoury for a family forum, but pretty convincing stories of either drug issues or very strong alcohol consumption by a varied crowd regularly visiting the flat above mum and dad's)... Mum then said that it was raining very heavily all morning, on the day of the burglary, yet there were no traces of footsteps, no marks, nothing around the front door and hall, and near their flat's door or inside the flat... they assume if a thief had come from outside, there would have been signs of wet weather prints... mind you, would 'polite' thieves wipe their feet?? The owner of the flats has gone to visit mum and dad to fix the door and lock, and also mentioned worries about the people living above them... saying they haven't paid rent for months... so all is a bit dodgy... seems owners have soft heart and are reluctant to start legal action, but have asked the tennant for a certain sum of money by december, which he has said he wouldn't be able to pay, so he said he'd be moving out in January... I hope that's true, but in the meantime I'm worried about mum and dad spending xmas and new year with those circumstances... OH doesn't seem too concerned, which is now making me angry, as when I called mum today she sounded tense as can be, and whispers on the phone in case anyone in the flat above or in the hall could hear ... Sorry for the moan, needed to get it off my chest... Thinking of getting mum and dad good security devices for their flat, and hoping to come across a nice sum of money to buy them a nice lil house of their own... I don't worry about mum and dad easily (I tend to think I'm their child, even though a 37 year old child, and worrying about me is their job, rather than the other way round, very childish I know ), so when I worry there is usually reason to... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Ziggy that is really terrible, I am so sorry. I think that you need to make sure they have good solid security in the flat - the introduction of something new, like a lock or an alarm might help to give your parents confidence. If it is the people upstairs who have done it, then hopefully having broken into your parents once, they will have satisfied themselves that there is nothing else to come back for, so it wont happen again. I think that as you get older you are less confident, so as your parents are in Brussels and you are not near it may be worth investigating any voluntary sector agencies that could give them some support - like Victim Support in the UK? I think statistically having been burgled once, it is unlikely they will be done over again. Fingers crossed their bad luck is all behind them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 What an awful thing to happen. I'm glad they are ok though. The whole thing is a bit suspect isn't it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
