Homeowner forced out

A Rockingham resident has spoken of his anguish after a spate of break-ins forced him out of his own home.

Simon Thompson’s rental property, adjacent to Lake Richmond, was broken into four times in a period of five months starting in January.

‘‘They basically took my suitcases and took whatever they found and loaded it into my suitcases, ’’ he said.

‘‘They took about $28,000 worth of stuff — iPads, iPods, kitchen equipment; there was cash in the house, bicycles.

‘‘They came back about six weeks ago, broke into my shed and stole an expensive roadracing bike. That was on the Wednesday.’’

Mr Thompson said he had to install bolts on his shed as his property was a rental, and the owner refused to install an alarm system.

After the third break-in Mr Thompson installed security cameras at the property and was shocked to find when he checked the footage he had recorded vision of two people climbing over the fence in broad daylight.

After the fourth break-in he decided he had had enough and made the decision to break his lease and purchase a property.

‘‘Every time I’d go to work I’d just be thinking ‘is my house safe — are my belongings safe. Am I going to come home and find it’s been burgled again?’’’ he said.

‘‘I was losing sleep and it was affecting my health. I just couldn’t do it any more. Within three weeks of buying this new house, I moved in. That’s how fast I wanted in.’’

Police have received information about the break-ins from the public and a spokesman said inquiries were ongoing.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.