Burglary terror of grandad aged 93
WAR VETERAN TARGETED THREE TIMES SAYS: IT’S NOT FAIR, I’M REALLY ANGRY
A ROYAL Navy veteran whose house has been broken into three times in six months says the cowardly would-be thieves ‘have no conscience whatsoever.’
James Gilligan, 93, now blocks his bedroom door with a box in a bid to keep out intruders following three latenight raids on his house in Rusholme.
The great-grandfather has been targeted three times in just six months.
Widower James says he is only glad his wife wasn’t around to experience the trauma because it ‘would have killed her.’
“It’s not fair,” says James. “It’s made me really angry.
“They didn’t actually take anything – that’s what I don’t understand.
“I was in hospital for five months and the house was empty and nobody attempted to go in, but the minute I come home they’re smashing my windows and doors. It’s really nasty.”
Callous intruders first broke into James’ home on April 17 – just weeks after he had returned from a long stint in hospital.
When James crept downstairs to find out what the disturbance was, he cut his feet on broken glass.
A would-be burglar then broke in three days later, on April 20.
Former welder James woke up, took hold of a walking stick and called downstairs to ask the intruder what he wanted. “He shouted ‘where’s the money?’ I just saw the top of his head and nothing more. I told him to come upstairs if he wanted money but he ran off.
“I was frightened. I’m 93 now and there’s no need for it. If they want money they can go out and work for it or join the Army.”
Sadly, burglars returned to James home once again in the early hours of October 11.
“I was in bed and I didn’t hear them,” says James.
“The girl next door phoned me and said ‘we have just had a burglar and it looks like he’s going to come to yours.’ I said ‘I’m locked up.’”
On all three occasions, they left empty handed as James has no cash or valuables stored in the house.
“What’s the point,” says James, who moved into the house in 1940 with his late wife Dorothy.
“I’m just glad she wasn’t here to see this. I think it would have killed her.
“We raised a family here. It’s been a very happy house until April.
“I have been here for years. When I first came out of the Navy there were no problems here at all. But gradually neighbours move out, sell the houses and bring students in. You don’t have long enough to get to know them.”
In the days after the late-night raids, James started sleeping with a bedding box behind his door to try to block entry to any unwanted visitors.
He has since had a secure lock fitted on his bedroom door and security has been increased around the whole house by Window Security Solutions and Manchester Locksmiths. He also has regular visits from his daughters and the police.
PCSO Mel Smith, who has been helping James since his last burglary, said: “It’s just a real shame that he has to go through all this at this time in his life. It’s even more upsetting to see when someone is elderly.”
Anyone with information about burglars operating around Rusholme or suspicious activity in the area is asked to call police on 101. If you have any information about the incidents at James’ home please quote the crime reference number 272573G/18.
Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.