Vigilance alert after home is ransacked

A CHADDERTON mum is urging Oldhamers to be more vigilant after burglars ransacked her home as she slept.

Diane Singleton of Alcester Street learned of the robbery when she was woken by police - who found her address in her discarded handbag.

Robbers got into the house through an unlocked front window. They stole Mrs Singleton’s handbag and purse, which contained treasured family photographs, house keys, car keys and keys to the alleygates behind her home. They also took her daughter Nicola’s purse and keys.

A man walking home from the pub saw two men in an alleyway rifling through the purses by torchlight and gave chase. When he failed to catch them he called police.

She said: “The first I knew of the robbery was when the police woke us. It was such a shock, realising it had happened as we slept.”

In the days that followed Nicola’s purse was found in a nearby field with her house keys and Mrs Singleton’s house keys. The car keys had been ripped off both sets, leading police to believe the thieves had intended to come back for the cars.

Mrs Singleton said: “I am so grateful to the people who have found our stuff and took the time to bring it back.”