He doesn’t ask for much but today all he wants is for the burglars who keep breaking into his house to just leave him alone.
His home has been broken into twice in the past month and three times since 2014.
Colin was on holiday in Australia when the two recent burglaries happened.
His TV, his brother’s motor scooter and some of his late wife’s perfume were stolen.
In 2014, the burglar took his wife’s jewellery.
“It’s a violation of your space, isn’t it? You don’t like people rifling through your stuff and it doesn’t give you a very good security feeling,” said Colin, who does not want his surname published. “I’m putting in an alarm now. Since I’ve lived here [2006], it’s the third time I’ve been robbed.”
The second break-in happened early last month, just after he had left for Australia.
A neighbour reported it to the police.
A man has been charged in connection with the break-in and is before the courts.
The motor scooter has been recovered, but none of the other stolen items have been found.
Police said south Christchurch is an area targeted by burglars, but there has been no recent spike in break-ins in the Somerfield area.
Colin said the builder who repaired his window, which was damaged when the burglar broke in, said there has been other burglaries in the area.
“He’s done about three (repair jobs) down around Cashmere Rd, just that particular building firm. It was the same type of break-in and entry and everything.”
Meanwhile, police are warning residents to be wary of people knocking on their front door, distracting them with a reason to leave their homes and then entering the house to steal items.
The warning comes after two incidents in Opawa and St Martins. When the residents returned they found items stolen and the offender gone. Police said it is too early to say if the incidents are connected.
