Burglary in Hull By Cilla

I really didn't want to write about this. But I've decided that maybe I should. Life in Hull is about bad things too. Last week we were burgled. One small window left open and one tempting bicycle on view. I guess it was too much for whoever it was to resist. After all, they were only in my garden, looking through my windows. Shame on me for leaving the window open.

And I guess the garden wall with the bricks missing from the top might have seemed a come-on. And I suppose leaving my purse, phone and laptop on my kitchen table inside my home was asking for it.

I can hear the tut's and 'should have's - and I admit that that I'm generally not too hot with home security, but I have this ridiculous belief that I have the right to my own space; that I can leave a window open, the door unlocked in my own home. And I thought it was people with something worth having who got burgled ….. I wonder who it was. Kids doing it for a dare or a laugh? An addict, strung out and driven to steal and plunder to support a habit?

Scene of Crime Officer (or the fingerprint lady to the kids) arrived with her case full of photographic and fingerprinting equipment.

It strikes me as particularly sad that my purse contained a bunch of (now useless) cards ….. and 2 small stones I keep for luck! And the penny jar they took - some coppers - not even the glimmer of a 10p piece for their trouble. How sad is that? They took my Zippo lighter - which had belonged to a very special friend of mine, who died. Anyone can understand that kind of loss - another memento of the past, gone forever, probably under a bush along the cycle track.

The phone is now inoperative, thanks to O2 - with or without my SIM card. The laptop? Well, they can have it. If they can get it to work then they probably deserve it. They could probably get a tenner for the bike, according to the police. Annie now has problems with her morning paper round and will have to walk or bus to school after the holidays. It was her most prized possession. Bella, who's 5, doesn't want to go to bed on her own now. That's where the real damage is. With the children. It's their security and happiness that have been knocked. continued below.

Scene of Crime Officer photographing evidence.

Burglary in Hull continued. By Cilla

A year ago Annie had her bike stolen from outside the swimming baths. She'd had it for a month. It was locked to a bicycle railing with her dad's and brothers'. The CCTV footage couldn't identify the thief. We've learned our lesson about bikes. Even locking them in our own back yard didn't work. So inside they came …. And that didn't work either. I give up. I'm not angry, just despairing.

Sure enough, after just 10 minutes, she'd nailed some prints by the back door window and lifted and photographed them successfully.

The kids get a hands on demonstration.

Then the cavalry arrived - to our surprise, it was little over half an hour after my call to the police that 1929 Officer Gibson from The Avenues LPT knocked on the door. We explained what we thought had happened, believing the intruder had entered from the back of the house. He could offer us comfort and a crime number but little hope for the retrieval of our property.

After another hour (approximately 10 in the morning) the Scene of Crime Officer (or the fingerprint lady to the kids) arrived with her case full of photographic and fingerprinting equipment. She got to work immediately and brushed down suspicious areas. Surrounded by inquisitive children, the lady began to explain to us all exactly what she was doing. Sure enough, after just 10 minutes, she'd nailed some prints by the back door window and lifted and photographed them successfully. To finish off, to our delight, she lifted the children's fingerprints to leave as a reminder of the incredible day we were having.

Colin (supervisor) Dan and Darren.

Very early the next morning we had a call from Victim Support who had been informed by the police of our break-in. They offered to help us prevent further burglaries by securing the house. I said "Yes Please" as our security following the theft of the back door key consisted of numerous empty wine bottles being leaned against the doors. It needed some further improvement.

3 days later, we opened the door to Colin, Dan and Darren from PROBE Limited, the company commissioned to provide alarms and new locks for all our windows and doors, courtesy of Victim Support in Hull. That is special. Colin, the Supervisor and a locksmith himself, explained that PROBE is sponsored by Victim Support. His two accompanying trainees, Dan and Darren were gaining real life work experience as part of their government-backed training.

Police Burglary Report.

They went around the house, followed by the usual entourage of children and their friends, balancing in sometimes precarious positions, to fit state of the art alarms and window locks. How fab is that? With cheerful smiles, Colin Dan and Darren allowed us to take photographs to show www.thisisUll.com readers.

Music Reviews - A Champion Night - Welly Club 16th January By Cilla and Greg
	One cold night in January (actually it was bloody freezing) my mate Greg and I went along to the Welly for a night with Champion Sound, the Reggae and Dancehall magicians who are currently gracing the Hull night club scene with their individual and blistering repertoire. We arrived early - about 10.15 and the club had a cold feel. There was a steady trickle of people arriving and after an hour or so, so the music began to build .. Read more...

Humour - Is it All Over for the Personal Ads? by Jane Foster

	At one time, joining a dating agency or putting a personal ad in the paper was seen as the mark of desperation. If anyone did do it, they seldom admitted it - unless they actually ended up meeting someone and staying with them. Then the details of how they met might leak out slowly.. But technology has changed the way people meet and interact, and one of the most common pastimes is.. Read more...

News - Victorian Valentine Hunt at Wilberforce House
	From Hull City Council Press Office Come along to Wilberforce House Museum during the half-term holiday and take part in our Victorian Valentine Hunt. There are six original Victorian Valentines hidden in rooms around the Museum for you to find. Read more...

Articles - Radio Airplay - Why just go for English Radio Shows? - It's a Big World Out There

	By Glenn Williams (Lazyswede productions) Bands are always complaining that they cannot get their CD's played on air and it's true, for most unsigned bands is not easy unless it's something really special. There are shows Like Alan Raw's Raw Talent which does its best to give all bands an opportunity to be heard which is very good. Read more...

Humour - Valentine Special...Odd Couples by Jane Foster

	As the old saying goes, opposites attract. Love can blossom between unlikely individuals. Love can cross boundaries of age, culture, distance..even extreme political ideologies. Let me show you our gallery of some of these couples.. people who have found true, everlasting love, despite cultural and political barriers, despite the prejudices and reactions of others. Read more...

Music Reviews - Adelphi NightClub
	It had been a long day covering Grass Roots Sunday festival in Pearson Park, and after a short kip I was to skip down to the Adelphi Nightclub where I had a couple of beers and took some photos and details of the acts and performers for www.thisisUll.com Read more...

People - Wanted Dead or Alive
	I've known Diane for most of my life. For most of that time she's been battling to get out of the rat race. She's a straightforward, straight-talking woman. She's bright, funny and has always - ALWAYS been on and around motor cycles. Read more...