Thief's 'apology' to his victim - or not!!

By Chris Brooke, dailymail

It was supposed to be an exercise in remorse and rehabilitation.

However, the 16-year-old burglar used the opportunity of writing a letter to his victims to rub salt into their wounds.

Instead of apologising for stealing valuables from a family home, he told the owners that ‘to be honest I’m not bothered or sorry about the fact that I burgled your house’.

Sorry sight: A teenage burglar penned this illiterate and unpleasant letter to the Leeds family he robbed

The teenager arrogantly said the raid was their own fault and told them off for their ‘dumb mistakes’ in making their property a target for thieves such as him.

The habitual offender, who has not been identified, was put on an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme as punishment for his latest crime.

Described as the ‘most rigorous’ form of non-custodial sentence available for young offenders, writing letters to victims is part of the programme meant to make them change their ways. In the case of this teenager, it clearly didn’t work.

Chief Inspector Melanie Jones said the contents of the letter were 'disgusting' but could prove useful as a warning to householders

His letter was stopped by the authorities before it reached the victims and has now been released as part of an anti-burglary campaign. Written in a scrawl and littered with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, the letter is addressed: ‘Dear Victim.’
He wrote: ‘I don’t no why I am writing a letter to you! I have been forced to write this letter by ISSP.
‘To be honest I’m not bothered or sorry about the fact that I burgled your house. Basicly it was your own fault anyways. I’m going to run you through the dumb mistakes you made. Firstly you didn’t draw your curtains which most people now to do before they go to sleep.
‘Secondly your dumb you live in Stainburns a high risk burglary area and your thick enough to leave your downstairs kitchen window open. I wouldnt do that in a million years.
‘But anyways I don’t feel sorry for you and Im not going to show any sympath or remores.’
The burglar stole a computer games console, camera, camcorder, two TVs and two speakers in the raid in Moortown, Leeds.

Most of the items were recovered and the teenager was arrested. West Yorkshire Police said he had previous convictions for similar offences.  In court he was given a 12-month ISSP order, designed to control the behaviour of young offenders through ‘community-based surveillance’.

Chief Inspector Melanie Jones said: ‘The contents of the letter are disgusting but it highlights the cold and dispassionate way burglars select a property to target.’

Local councillor Sharon Hamilton said: ‘How dare he? It’s not for him to be telling people how to look after their homes. He has no right to be breaking into their homes.’

A spokesman for the UK Neighbourhood Watch Trust said the letter was ‘appalling’, but added: ‘Christmas is coming and people like to leave their curtains open so people can see their lights and their tree, but they need to realise the criminal is looking at their TV, radio, computer and the presents under the tree.’

To make sure that you do not fall victim of burglary,ask for a free security survey

sales@thealarmingman.co.uk

Keep your stables secure without wires or mains power

This article appeared on Horse and Hounds web site 26th Aug 09
Security specialist The Alarming Man has introduced a new range of wireless and battery-powered security devices that can be installed in fields, stable yards and tackrooms without the need for mains power.

The system works using movement sensors and battery-powered digital videos cameras. When a sensor is tripped the camera records a 10sec video clip, which is then sent to a monitoring centre using mobile phone technology. The video is immediately reviewed by an individual at the 24/7 monitoring centre, who will decide whether to call the police, contact the keyholder or take no action.

The video can also be emailed to the keyholder if required, enabling the yard owner to keep abreast of all alarm activations. The system can include an audible alarm, or not, as required.

David Cole of The Alarming Man explains: "By having the video reviewed by a real person, they can decide whether the situation requires action or not. For example if a squirrel trips off the sensor then no action is required, but if a horse has let itself out of its stable and is wandering around when no-one is on the yard, then the keyholder would be notified.

"If the keyholder has left the yard, set the alarm and then a horse is led out of the stables by a third party, then the police and the keyholder would be notified.

"The owner of each system can provide the monitoring centre with a list of incidents which require them to be contacted, and a list of situations in which no action is required, so the alert system is tailored exactly to your needs."

The system uses batteries which last a minimum of two years, multiple cameras can be included and the range is approx 700m from the cameras to the control box, which sends the video to the control centre. GPRS technology means the system can be used anywhere that there is a mobile phone signal.

A standard system with four cameras costs around £2,500 to purchase, with a monthly charge in the region of £22 for the 24/7 monitoring service. For more details visit www.thealarmingman.co.uk