GRAN LOSES GEMS IN DOUBLE RAIDS
A NORTH WARD grandmother living in a third- floor apartment has been robbed two nights in a row this week, with fears her home was targeted for her priceless jewellery collection.
Maisie Anning, a 68- yearold retiree, was sleeping during both robberies when it’s believed a thief scaled three storeys into her secure apartment block in Mitchell St – entering through open bi- fold doors on the balcony of her unit.
The first robbery on Tuesday night went unnoticed until Mrs Anning emptied her handbag on Wednesday morning to find her wallet unzipped and $ 500 missing. She also discovered empty jewellery boxes in her walk- in wardrobe.
“Gradually I realised I’d been robbed. Most things of value in my drawers had gone because they’d picked the best of it,” she said.
“There would be about 20 priceless pieces missing in gold, white gold and rose gold, including bracelets, rings, brooches and necklaces with white, pink and champagne diamonds, emeralds and opals – all priceless, worth a substantial sentimental and monetary amount with the most expensive sets from Kimberley Fine Diamonds worth tens of thousands of dollars alone.”
Mrs Anning said police told her they initially believed the offender accessed the apartment through an exterior door, as scaling up to the balcony was “near impossible”.
However after the second robbery, with exterior doors secured, it was clear the fender had climbed up.
Just after midnight on Wednesday, Ms Anning was alerted to a bump in the night that “bolted her upright” but the assailant fled, taking her laptop and handbag, with keys to her unit and car, and her bank and identification cards – which were all under her bed.
“It’s pretty terrifying to think someone was in my room, it’s unnerved me so much that I can’t be home alone until all the locks are changed and I don’t think I can ever leave the balcony bi- folds open ever again,” she said.
Two of Mrs Anning’s three daughters flew to the city last night, including Elise Petty, from Kununurra in Western Australia, who was distraught for her mother’s loss of security and heirlooms.
“We believe she was targeted specifically for her jewellery because what they stole was very valuable but most of all very sentimental – her mother, my grandmother, passed away two years ago and everything she had ever given my mum and left her in her will has been stolen,” she said.
Townsville’s Property Crime Squad is investigating.
Anyone with any information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. of-