Family are ‘horrified’ to see raid on camera
A FAMILY was left in shock after their nanny-cam caught Asian gold burglars ransacking their home while they were away on a pilgrimage.
The thieves, who were masked and gloved - one even had a long screwdriver - are seen casually going up and down the stairs, next to a sign that says ‘home sweet home’. The video has been shared by Greater Manchester Police as part of an effort to tackle a rise in burglaries in Asian communities before Ramadan.
The family, who had been on a pilgrimage to Mecca, were flying back home when they watched the shocking footage, initially thinking it was happening live. But the burglary had actually taken place hours earlier and they were watching a recording which had loaded onto an app on one of their phones.
A family member, who wished to stay anonymous, told the Observer: “I thought it was live. It was scary, honestly, seeing a stranger walking through the house and going through the drawers. It was horrifying.”
Upon landing at Manchester Airport and returning to their Rochdale home, they
discovered a neighbour had already called the police.
The family member said: “Everything was upside down, all the drawers had been turned out and the cupboards and cabinets had been opened. They had opened all the doors and emptied boxes.
“Everything was inside out and all over the place. They were clearly looking for something.
“They were going through small places where you would normally hide things, important stuff like money, jewellery and gold. It was almost like they were using a metal detector.
“All the cushions from the sofa had been removed, where coins might have fallen down the sides. I think they knew we were away.
“I think somebody was watching and saw a change in
hour habits and used it as an opportunity. It’s very shocking.
“It’s that sense of security you normally have in your own home, it’s no longer there. You are constantly checking doors and windows and the smallest noise can wake you up and you are reliving the moment.”
In the end, the only items that were taken were two ‘nanny-cams’ which shot and uploaded the footage, he said. The householder added: “Personally, I think they were after the car keys. We had just bought a BMW.”
He said that around Ramadan, Muslim families often travel to visit relatives and might spend time away from their homes, leaving them vulnerable to burglars.
“It’s a very social period of time and people tend to spend time with loved ones,” he said.
GMP says that, even though no gold was taken, the home was probably targeted for gold. Burglars are targeting Asian homes because, culturally, they are more likely to possess gold, often of the highest purity and which has been handed down from generation to generation.
GMP has increased patrols particularly in Asian areas of Oldham and Oldham and has sent teams into communities to encourage households to improve security in their homes, for instance by closing doors and windows when they are away.
PC Mohammed Latif, of GMP’S Rochdale burglary unit, said: “This kind of crime is a constant throughout the year but there are spikes within the year, particularly when we come up to the holy month of Ramadan.”