RELATED: Police wrap | Monday, February 13
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A WHITE Hills mother has spoken about the distress caused by thefts and break-ins at and around the house in which her family lives.
Police attended a number of houses in the vicinity of Fifth Avenue this morning, including that of Ashleigh Howarth.
Mrs Howarth said someone had been in the shed and stolen power tools, which belonged to her father.
The back gate was propped open with a bin, leaving the family’s two dogs free to wander out onto the road.
The dogs were fine, and the tools were insured.
But Mrs Howarth said a priceless family heirloom had suffered from the intrusion: a bear, gifted to her husband shortly after he was born by a deceased uncle.
“It’s a very, very sentimental thing,” she said.
The bear was safely stored in a drawer in the shed.
“They pulled it out of the drawer and threw it onto the ground,” Mrs Howarth said.
There, the 30-something-year-old stuffed toy became the plaything of the two dogs.
“You can’t get things like that back,” Mrs Howarth said.
She believes the break-in occurred about 5am.
Police were called and attended the scene later that morning to fingerprint the property.
Mrs Howarth said they didn’t find anything.
“It just makes you feel sick because someone’s come into your backyard,” she said.
“I didn’t ever think they’d get past the dogs… they must be pretty game.”
Bendigo Sergeant Grant Thompson said police were investigating a series of thefts from sheds at residential properties in the vicinity of Fifth Avenue, White Hills.
At least five properties were affected, they he knew of.
Mrs Howarth said the break-in had affected her five-year-old daughter, who had been fearful for family’s security since a demolition saw was stolen from the back of a ute parked in the driveway in January.
Sergeant Thompson appealed for anyone with information about the break-ins and thefts to call Bendigo Police Station on 5448 1300 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.