Burglars steal Christmas presents in raid on family home

A FAMILY has been left living in fear after burglars broke into their home and stole Christmas presents before stealing and trashing their car.

Mum Amy Wakelin said her five children had been left “traumatised” by the incident at their home on Piccadilly Road, Swinton, on Tuesday, December 6.

Mrs Wakelin and husband Lee were then left furious when burglars returned just three days later and prised open a window and stole tools.

In the first break-in the intruders fished for the house keys through the letterbox before stealing computer tablets, a purse, a wallet, cash and a Playstation games console.

The gang then fled in the family’s Vauxhall Zafira at around 5.30am before crashing it into other cars and a lamppost.

Mrs Wakelin said the family slept through the incident and some of the items stolen were Christmas presents.

She said: “It was just before we got up. We have five kids who are petrified. They are scared to death. They don’t want to go to bed and don’t want to come down in the morning.

“Our five-year-old refused to stay at home.

“It’s not what they took, it’s what they leave behind. What they take can be replaced but the children don’t feel safe in their house.”

Mrs Wakelin said she and Lee felt “upset” that they could not protect their children from the frightening situation.

The burglars returned at around 9am on Friday, December 9, and stole tools after prising open a window.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police asked anyone with any information about the incidents to get in touch.

He said: “At around 6.40am on December 6, there was a report of a collision involving the Zafira in Kilnhurst Road, between Kilnhurst and Rawmarsh. It is reported that the vehicle and a lamppost were badly damaged.

“The Zafira is believed to have left the scene and around 15 minutes later, at 6.55am, officers found the vehicle abandoned in the middle of Blyth Avenue, Rawmarsh.

“Witnesses report seeing a man wearing a red and black jacket carrying several bags in the Dale Road area shortly after the Zafira was abandoned.

“Officers are keen to speak with anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the Piccadilly Road area on Tuesday morning, or anyone who may have witnessed the collision in Kilnhurst Road.”

Anyone with any information should call police on 101 or by emailing [email protected], quoting incident number 119 of December 6.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.