Burglars prey on pensioner living alone

A twice-robbed 71-year-old pensioner says she has been angered by the actions of the thieves.

The woman, who does not wish to be identified, came home on Wednesday, May 11 to find her house had been broken into.

‘‘They had tipped a wheelie bin on its side to jump the fence and had forced the back door open with a steel garden hoe,’’ she said.

Only a week earlier, she had had her van broken into while parked at the Point Peron carpark.

‘‘It’s made me feel angry, a little depressed but mostly angry. There is definitely that feeling of being violated.’’

But she considers herself lucky, saying things could have been worse.

‘‘For older people living alone the biggest fear is having someone break in at night, and you end up hurt,’’ she said.

Police do not believe the incidents are linked.

The thieves took electrical items, jewellery and a Pentax camera, which still had a roll of film in it.

‘‘The thing is they probably will not get much for what they took, but I would like to get the items back, especially the Pentax which I use for my hobby, photography,’’ the pensioner said.

She said her neighbours had been frightened by the break-in.

‘‘It is a safe street, my neighbours watch out for each other and this has made them a little scared,’’ she said.

The 71-year-old believes her home may have been watched.

‘‘They came on a day I sometimes go out, and I have seen some cars parked on the other side of the street on occasion with people just sitting in them for half an hour or so,’’ she said.

Police have urged people to report suspicious behaviour contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.