In what should have been a routine afternoon, 81-year-old Deborah returned home from a shopping trip on January 18th, only to fall victim to a distressing burglary. After placing her handbag on a bench near the front door, Deborah went inside to rest with her dog, unaware of the events about to unfold.
Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Deborah was awaiting the arrival of her daughter, Louise, who arrived shortly after. To her horror, Louise found the front door ajar, immediately fearing for her mother’s wellbeing.
“I assumed something had happened and Mum had fallen over or something, especially as she is ill,” Louise recounted. “But pretty quickly, we realised Mum’s bag had gone, and someone had been inside and taken it.”
The quick-thinking duo immediately used the ‘Find My Phone’ app, discovering that Deborah’s phone was still nearby. Police were promptly alerted, and within a short time, officers arrived at the scene. The phone was located, and the next day, 58-year-old Soloman Jeffers of Harnham was arrested. Although Deborah’s handbag was eventually recovered by a member of the public, several cherished items were missing, including a driving licence wallet gifted to her by her mother when she was just 17.
Despite the ordeal, Deborah was full of praise for the police, stating, “The police were very good at keeping me updated, which I really appreciated. When they told me he’d been arrested, I was really pleased. I did feel angry at myself for leaving the front door unlocked, but it could have been a lot worse.”
Deborah’s experience has led her to become more mindful of her home’s security. “I now always keep my front door locked and would encourage everyone to do the same, especially if you live alone like me. I would also recommend people download the ‘Find My Phone’ app as it really helped us in this case.”
Jeffers pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment on April 19th. While relieved by the outcome, Deborah expressed a degree of sympathy for her intruder. “I was pleased, but I did feel a bit sad for him really.”
Detective Constable Cerys Powell praised the swift use of technology in helping to apprehend the culprit. “Apps such as Find My Phone can be really beneficial in cases such as this – it enables us to focus our enquiries in a far more specific location and on this occasion helped lead to the arrest of Jeffers. We take reports of this nature extremely seriously and will always respond as soon as possible, knowing the impact burglary can have on someone. I am pleased that on this occasion we were able to quickly identify the offender and he was given a custodial sentence.”
This incident serves as a timely reminder to Swindon residents about the importance of home security. With burglary highlighted as a key priority by Chief Constable Catherine Roper, Wiltshire Police is keen to ensure that the community takes preventative measures. By staying vigilant, securing properties, and using technology like the ‘Find My Phone’ app, residents can reduce the risk of falling victim to such crimes.
For more crime prevention advice, visit Wiltshire Police’s website and search for #BeBurglarAware.
