FRIGHTENING: A hooded man entered Sampson Street resident Patricia Walker’s home and stole $350 from her kitchen bench. Photo: JUDE KEOGH.
SAMPSON Street resident Patricia Walker still struggles to sleep, after a brazen man wearing a hoodie walked through her back door while she watched TV and stole $350 cash from their kitchen bench.
Since the home invasion last Monday, Mrs Walker fears every noise she hears is someone attempting to rob her again.
“I feel sick and terrified every night,” she said.
“I wake up and think every creak in the house is someone coming in.”
Mrs Walker and her husband were watching TV just after 10pm when she heard ruffling noises near her kitchen.
“I turned around and expected to see a cat not a guy in a hoodie,” she said.
“I screamed and said get out. I just couldn’t believe he was in the house.”
The couple immediately rang the police and Mrs Walker was impressed with how quick they attended the scene to search nearby streets but unfortunately the man could not be found.
It is the second time the couple has been robbed following another burglary five years ago when a group of teenagers entered the home while they were sleeping.
“We didn’t hear anything because it was rainy and windy,” she said.
“They caught five and they were all between 17 and 19.
“One window out of 28 windows in the house had problems with the lock, for them to find that one was unbelievable.”
She has spoken out hoping it makes others aware of the importance of keeping all doors and windows locked - even when they are at home.
“When you are home it’s counted as aggravated burglary,” she said.
“Summer time is when people have got their windows open for fresh air.”
While she saw the man wearing a white hoodie and parachute pants, Mrs Walker said she only caught a glimpse of his face and would not be able to identify him in a line-up.
She fears the man may have staked out the house as he knew where the back door was, but fortunately other valuables including a laptop were left behind.
clare.colley@ruralpress.com