Yahoo News Lib Dem councillor ‘scared to put her children to bed’ after six break-in attempts in two years
A Liberal Democrat councillor has said she is scared to put her children to bed after six break-in attempts at her home in two years.
Laura McCarthy told the Birmingham Mail she was living in fear after the latest incident at her home in Solihull, West Midlands.
The 31-year-old mother-of-two, a Lib Dem councillor for Elmdon, was out picking her seven-year-old daughter up from school when someone used a tool to rip away the front door lock last Monday.
Although they failed to gain entry to the property, there have have been previous occasions when burglars have jumped into the back garden, stolen a Sat Nav after smashing into her car and broken into the garage.
“This was my sixth attempted break-in/actual break-in in two years. In broad daylight,” she said on Twitter.
Yesterday was my sixth attempted break-in/actual break-in in two years. In broad day light. I haven’t seen a police officer and won’t because they don’t have the resources.
This is the reality of policing in Britain today. Officers doing more with less. HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?— Laura McCarthy (@LauraMcCarSol) March 26, 2019
“I haven’t seen a police officer and won’t because they don’t have the resources. This is the reality of policing in Britain today. Officers doing more with less.
“Just to clarify, this isn’t a criticism of the police (who do a marvellous job with what they have).
“This is a criticism of a government which tells police chiefs that they have enough when they very clearly don’t.”
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In an open letter to home secretary Sajid Javid, published by the Birmingham Mail, Ms McCarthy wrote: “Are you listening?
“I am scared when I switch my lights off at night that somebody is watching me.
“I am scared when I put my children to sleep that they will be woken by an intruder. I am scared there is nothing I can do to stop it.”
She added: “When I phoned 101 to report my attempted break-in, I was told that an officer wouldn’t come out to me because they didn’t have the resources to investigate. This isn’t unusual.
“We both know that reducing the crime rate isn’t as simple as flooding the streets with police and giving out longer jail terms.
“We need to look at the causes of crime and tackle them. Prevention is key.
“In order to do this, we first need to make sure that we have full Neighbourhood Police Teams who are able to work with partner agencies to identify issues and prevent them from escalating.
So, I wrote a thing.
Putting aside my experience, my residents are scared. Our Police are working exceptionally hard to keep us safe but there is only so much they can do with what they have. They need more.
Are you listening @sajidjavid?#FundOurPolice https://t.co/VbzYMJDtfd— Laura McCarthy (@LauraMcCarSol) April 2, 2019
“The police cannot prevent if they don’t even have the resources to react.
“This isn’t right in 2019 in Great Britain.
“My residents should be able to go to bed every night without wondering whether their car will be on the drive when they wake up.
“They should be able to pop to the shops without worrying what they will find when they come home.
“They shouldn’t live in a permanent state of fear.”
