Thieves ransack burnt out property

3:00pm Wednesday 5th March 2008

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A SINGLE mother has hit out at thieves who raided her burnt out family home in Pilning.

Dale White faced an uphill battle to keep her last possessions when opportunists started carrying out break-ins on her destroyed house.

Miss White and her family had been forced out of the three bedroom semi-detached property, in Wick Road, when a house fire ripped through it last month.

But thieves have since started raiding the partly secured home, stealing household and garden items including prized carp, ornaments and a TV box.

She said: "It is disgusting what people think they can get away with. I've lost my home and now I have people breaking in and taking what little things I have left.

"They climbed up through the open top windows and threw everything out on to the ground before taking what they want.

"They also broke the window to the garden outbuilding and took what they could.

"It is the last thing you expect after all that has happened to us."

Miss White and her two sons Aaron, 14, and Jamie, 16, and daughter Kim, 19, are living in temporary accommodation in Severn Beach.

Aaron, who is a pupil at Marlwood School, said: "I had about 20 fishing rods and now I only have about two.

"They even tried pulling my motorbike out through the window of the outbuilding.

"I hope the people who did this realise what they have done."

Last week the family moved all items left at the house to their new home.

Miss White, who had not insured the property, is applying for 'floating support' funding from South Gloucestershire Council.

Pilning and Severn Beach Cllr Peter Tyzack is working with Merlin Housing Society on behalf of Miss White and her family.

Cllr Tyzack said: "I have asked the council's cabinet to look at doing something to help people who find themselves in similar positions to Miss White.

"In emergencies everything seems to be considered apart from the personal circumstances of the individual."

Merlin Housing Society spokesman Hywel Lloyd added: "Since the fire we have been in almost daily contact with Ms White and are pleased that we have been able to find her and her family alternative accommodation.

"Our investigation into the condition of the property is still ongoing. We will continue to update the family on its progress and on the repair work."