VERY ANGRY: Break-in victims Ashleigh and Fred Maw say people can no longer feel safe in their own home. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 0116sgtheft1
CALARE resident Ashleigh Maw has become the latest victim of a spate of break-ins in Orange, proof thieves aren’t just targeting north Orange.
Thieves entered Ms Maw’s Barrett Street home in the early hours of Wednesday morning taking less than five minutes to steal a number of personal items including a laptop, computer a mobile phone, house keys and a wallet.
Ms Maw said she was watching television till around 1am when she left the lounge room for a couple of minutes only to return and find she’d been robbed.
Ms Maw told the Central Western Daily she believes the thieves must have been watching her movements through the screen door which she’d left open for fresh air.
“I’m very angry and upset about this,” Ms Maw said.
“It feels like you can’t feel safe in your own home anymore.”
Ms Maw said her parents, who were in bed at the time, are both upset they’ve been targeted in their own home.
“Now mum doesn’t want to be home by herself, she doesn’t even like going into he backyard to hang the clothes on the line,” she said.
Ms Maw said the family has decided to increase its household security including installing a security system including cameras.
Canobolas Local Command duty officer Bruce Grassick is urging Orange residents to take extra security precautions in the wake of a string of break-ins in Orange.
Inspector Grassick said the police had spent the past several weeks reminding people to be conscious of their security, particularly during the warm weather.
“People need to secure their windows and lock their doors at all times, even if they’re home.”
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au