Mum’s anger over heartless theft

By Danielle Galvin
THIEVES who ransacked a Narre Warren home stole a five-year-old’s birthday money and left the house in disarray.
Bronwyn Coombs returned home with her young family on Sunday 19 June to find her clothes scattered all over her bedroom.
The university student was surprised that the thieves left behind her laptop, but stole money from a young child’s room.
“I’ve never felt unsafe here but now when someone parks out the front of the house I’m suspicious of them,” she said.
Bronwyn’s youngest son is scared to sleep in his room alone.
“Ever since he’s been coming into my room and staying with us in our bed.
“He’s scared because it was his window that was broken into,” she explained.
Bronwyn’s great-grandmother’s engagement ring was stolen.
“I think it was from 1917. You can’t replace that sort of thing,” she said.
Her mother’s wedding ring was also stolen.
“My daughter was premature, and we weren’t sure she was going to make it. I bought her a bracelet that was also stolen,” she said.
Bronwyn said that the police were not hopeful that the irreplaceable jewellery would be found.
“We went to Cash Converters to see if they had been sold there, but unfortunately nothing had turned up,” she said.
After the burglary, Bronwyn would have liked to move the family somewhere else in the area.
She would like to feel safe again in her own home.
“It’s not practical that we pick up and move house, although we would like to,” she said.
At night and before they leave the house, the Coomb’s family turns a light on and leaves the radio going.
“It’s just one of those things you can’t control.”
Bronwyn’s mother Lynne O’Donnell says that the burglary was incomprehensible, and that the jewellery stolen was priceless.
“No value can ever be placed on these items.”