My ex-wife's 92-year-old mother was burgled this week. She had been in hospital for a few days, and the burglars had taken notice of her unlit, empty house. So they forced a window and had a wander around.
After pulling out a few drawers, and scattering things about, they left with a small purse of rings. The monetary value was relatively insignificant : probably enough cash, from a dodgy jeweller, to buy a few bags of heroin. But what was wrenched from the family were treasures of enormous sentimental value : my ex-wife's grandmother's engagement and wedding rings, her mother's own wedding rings, and a special token which her late father had smuggled back from his German prisoner-of-war camp to give to his waiting fiancée. She said she had always coveted that, and assumed that one day it would pass to her, and in time to our daughter.
Added to this there is, of course, the intrusion and violation. Her mother, still in hospital, has not yet been told for fear that she will never want to return and sleep there again.
All this, no doubt, will be of little consequence to the offenders. By now, the heroin gone, they may well be sizing up another property. And so the havoc continues, with cynical disregard for the victims.
