I thought I tell fellow swaggers this story, just passed on from my sister.
She lives in an inner city suburb, unassuming residence in a nice inner Melbourne NE suburb near the Yarra.
She and my BIL returned today from a week away to find their home trashed. Usual camera gear and some PC gear taken. What was unusual was every small item of "ephemera" of historical nature had been pinched.
The whole house had been turned upside down, cupboards and boxes emptied and gone through, top to bottom. The perps must have been in the house for several hours. Bookcases trashed, drawers turned upside down and gone thru. She reckons it will take her a week to tidy up the place.
Every blind in the house had been pulled down, blankets had been placed over gaps between drapes and window frames, to prevent light showing outside, or anyone else looking in.
Taken was every item of "ephemera". antique or otherwise that she and her husband had collected in their 40 years or marriage, jewelery, small antiquities from the 40's and 50's, books of any value, in fact anything that you mite think could be sold in a good second hand shop that could be readily transported had been removed. No items of furniture were removed.
The local Police reckoned that it was the most unusual case they have seen, no prints (gloves worn) no disturbance noticed by neighbors (at night?).
The only thing my sister can think that may have laid them open to this theft is that over the past 6 months they have been selling of small items of a historical or antique nature that may have identified them as a possible target, small antiques, antiqitities and old books that they no longer required.
Her tips now are:
Dont let anyone strange come into you house to view items, have them at the entrance door or nearby. If they are large, put them in the shed out the back if possible.
Record their vehicle number plate before they leave.
It makes you think how many other thefts may have been planned this way.
