Grenade that sparked alert was pride of war collection ‘It was more than just a piece of history’ – owner
ADAD- OF-THREE who collects war memorabilia sparked an evacuation of his street when police found his decommissioned grenade after he’d been burgled.
Simon Hall, 34, only moved into his room on Dover Street, Rochdale, a few weeks ago after he’d been given the devastating news that his mum had passed away.
However, on Saturday afternoon, someone smashed their way through Simon’s window to steal his laptop and disability money.
And when police arrived to investigate the burglary, they found the dad’s decommissioned grenade, the pride and joy of his WWII memorabilia collection he bought at a market.
When Simon couldn’t provide the paperwork to prove it was no longer explosive, officers were forced to evacuate the street and call in the bomb squad and took the grenade away.
“I got it off a market stall about ten years ago, the guy said it had been decommissioned when the pin had been pulled in battle,” Simon said.
“That was one of the only things that survived my relationship with my ex and now that’s something I’m never going to get back, it’s lost forever.
“It was more than just a piece of history - I wanted to give it to my kids, you just can’t get them anymore because they’re blown up whenever you find them.”
After growing up in foster care, Simon spent a large portion of life homeless, sleeping on the streets of Greater Manchester, and was grateful to start looking towards a brighter future.
But he says he has been left devastated after the burglary.
Speaking about what happened, Simon said: “I went out on my scooter for about an hour to go and get some chicken for my dinner and now I’ve lost everything.
“When I came back I caught him coming out of my room and I asked for my stuff back four times before I called the police.
“He’s taken all my money too, I was saving up for a new scooter and he’s stolen all my money, it was the only thing I’ve been looking forward to.”
Simon, who suffers from a condition in his spine that causes him a lot of pain, has to use a walking aid to help move about.
He enjoys using his electric scooter to get around as it helps to give him freedom - but now he feels trapped as his current device has some electrical problems, and he was hoping to purchase a replacement.
Simon claims the man responsible for the burglary smashed his laptop on the street after the police had been called.
The Rochdale Observer saw the battered remains of a blue HP laptop in Simon’s room whilst he was waiting for the window to be boarded up. Police confirmed they were called at around 3.35pm to a report of a burglary at a property.
A spokesperson for GMP said: “Officers attended and upon entering the property a suspected grenade was found. Bomb disposal officers attended the scene to assess the device and it was deemed not to be viable.
“A man was arrested at the scene but later dearrested.”
WHAT you’ve been saying on our Facebook page:
● “PETRIFIED” neighbours were evacuated as the bomb squad swooped on their homes after a suspected grenade was found. Residents in two Rochdale streets were told to leave their houses following the discovery on Saturday afternoon. Firefighters, police and bomb disposal experts were called to Dover Street and Clarke Street (see page 5):
Alana Calow: There was an autistic child crying hysterically because she didn’t understand what was going on. On our street everything is really quiet. We don’t normally hear anything going on if the police knocked on your door asking to leave your property without telling you, children in the home wouldn’t you be petrified! We didn’t even know what was going on. The police wouldn’t tell anyone. A neighbour didn’t make it any easier by saying it was a bomb before we were even told. Some people may not give a c**p but I do and it wasn’t a nice experience. I’d dread to think if I was at home and I didn’t hear the door like most others!!! God forbid this ever happens to you.
TWO knives have been seized from pupils at secondary schools in Rochdale during a sweep by police. Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s
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School Engagement team seized the weapons during visits across the borough this week (page eight):
Patricia HassettJohnson: We are all responsible for our own children and their behaviour, as a parent I like to think I’d know if any of mine were carrying such items. Dolly Jarvis: So glad these knives were confiscated. Obviously daily checks needed Ste Sanders: It’s sad that kids feel the need to carry knives to protect themselves Patricia D Hallard: Good gracious its frightening
● A YOUNG woman who was suffering from agonising stomach pain was told it was “probably just a stomach bug” until an emergency scan was performed by doctors revealing a life-threatening condition. 19-year-old Sophie Dixon began to experience “crippling pain” and cramping at home (November 22):
Kelly Hurn: This is what happened to my daughter for 2 weeks she was in agony kept telling me it was a gastric bug she had to have her appendix out via emergency surgery Simone Mead: Bless that amazing doctor, 11 hours waiting in a&e with a burst appendix that’s unreal, the pain that poor girl must have been in thank god her dr pushed as hard as he did to find out what was wrong some heroes don’t wear capes Sandra Winkley: Whatever the staff may have thought pain, to the patient, is what they describe and not what staff think they are feeling. This is a clear example Jahn Khan: The doctor was prompt and presented a catastrophe would a GP have done the same?