‘I didn’t know what I was going to walk in to’
Homeowner speaks out after house smashed up in ram raid
‘If I’d been home I could have ended up in hospital’ – these are the words of a man who returned to his Sunderland home to find attackers had smashed windows and ramraided the garden wall.
After spending the night at his partner’s house, Brian Simpson returned home to find his kitchen window has been smashed, his front door boarded up and a hole in the wall to his yard.
The 41-year-old says he immediately started shaking fearing for the safety of his two cats thinking his home had been broken into.
The incident happened late on Tuesday evening (November 19) and Mr Simpson has been told vehicles ramraided the wall to the property on Roseville Street.
Police officers have confirmed they are investigating reports of a burglary.
Mr Simpson believes it was the flat below his that was targeted.
During the incident, Mr Simpson’s door and kitchen window were also broken, but nothing has been taken from inside.
“When I saw the wood up against the door I thought it was a break-in,” said Mr Simpson, who suffers from mental health issues.
“I thought my cats could have been harmed and I just started to shake.
“My partner’s jaw just dropped.
“I just didn’t know what to think or what to expect.
“I didn’t know what I was going to walk into.”
Mr Simpson added: “We had to wait 45 minutes for the joiner to come and remove the board before I could get inside.
“I dread to think what could have happened if I’d been home when all this went on.
“I could have ended up in the hospital.
“I’m sat not knowing what’s going to happen now.
“I’m afraid to leave the house in this state.”
A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “Police received a report of a burglary at an address on Roseville Street in Sunderland.
“At about 6.15am on Wednesday it was reported that a man broke into a house.
“After disturbing the residents he fled the scene.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 101 quoting 99 201119, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.