Gran 'sick to stomach' after Grinch burglars swipe Christmas gifts - and a calendar chocolate

A gran told how her Christmas has been turned upside down after burglars broke in and snatched gifts bought for her two-year-old granddaughter.

The 42-year-old and her partner, who has been her carer since she recently suffered a stroke, had been putting away £10 a week in savings towards the Christmas presents. Earlier this week, thieves ripped through the back door of the house on Furness Street in the Mill House area of Hartlepool and took the lot from an upstairs bedroom.

The couple told how they had moved from Middlesbrough to Hartlepool "for a fresh start", but had been left devastated by the theft. "We are already struggling at the moment and then this happens," said the victim, who did not want to be named.

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"Most of the presents were for my granddaughter who is two. She's the only granddaughter I've got. The presents were all in the spare bedroom and we were asleep in the room next door. We came downstairs and everything was as it was.

"Then I went to Facetime her mam to show her the presents and they were gone. I was crying my eyes out and felt sick to my stomach."

The incident occurred some time between 11pm on Wednesday, November 27, and 1pm on Thursday, November 28. The stolen gifts, thought to be worth £230 in total, included a Cocomelon bike and scooter, Peppa Pug rucksack, Paw Patrol figures, a princess horse and carriage toy, as well as a pink Tote bag for babies.

"My granddaughter saw my bag and said she wanted the same so we got her the baby version," said the gran. The thieves also stole two bottles of Sauvage aftershave, two bottles of Alien perfume and a bottle of Lacoste Red aftershave.

"They even ate a Cadbury's chocolate pud and the chocolate out of an advent calendar," she said. Her partner, 44, said they have never been burgled before and they have never posted pictures of Christmas presents on social media.

"You see people do that all the time and I think they must be mad," he said. "It shouldn't be like that, but it's the world we live in."

Detective Inspector Louise Sproson from Hartlepool CID asked for anyone with information, doorbell, dashcam or private CCTV from the area to get in touch. “Our investigation is ongoing and we would welcome information or footage," she said.

"Please contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number quoting ref 226334." If you don’t want to speak to police you can pass information anonymously to www.crimestoppers-uk.org or call 0800 555111.

It was the first report to the force this winter of Christmas presents being stolen. Detectives are urging residents to take extra care in the run-up and offered the following tips:

• Don’t leave presents on display under the Christmas tree in view of the window. And, if you’re going away, don’t advertise this on social media

• Lock all doors and windows when you’re home or if you go out. Pay particular attention to the rear of your home

• Don’t put keys under the doormat or in a flowerpot, thieves know all of these hiding places

• Don’t leave windows open a few inches for the cat to get in or out, burglars find this useful too

• Keep your shed and garage locked. Your tools are useful to a thief who wants to gain entry. If your garage has a communicating door with the inside of the house, secure it just like another exterior door

• Don’t leave ladders lying around. If you must leave them outside, padlock them to something secure

• Close the curtains and leave a light on in a room when you are out (but not in the hall, no-one spends the evening in the hall). Buy a timer switch as a stocking filler for a loved one

• Lighten dark areas around your home using low energy dusk ‘til dawn lighting. Remember – burglars hate light and are much more likely to target an unlit property

• Make sure that your house and contents are adequately insured

• Mark your valuables. Use one of the widely available kits or look out for property marking events on your local police page on Facebook, where you can take your items along to be marked

• Leave a radio on, playing a talk programme rather than music. You can also consider a ‘simulated TV’ to give the appearance from outside that a TV is on

• Keep an eye out for the vulnerable and older people at Christmas.

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