Cruel burglars steal TV from care home days before Christmas

[dutchman]

Cruel burglars broke into a Coventry care home and swiped a widescreen TV from a newly refurbished games room.



Staff at Holyhead Care Centre, in Holyhead Road, Spon End, were looking forward to opening the room – modelled on a sports bar – in time for Christmas.

But that might now be delayed after they discovered the callous theft on Friday morning.

The burglars broke into the room through a locked window that overlooks the busy Holyhead Road junction with Barras Lane.

They removed the TV from the wall, ripping off displays and knocking over the Christmas tree in the process, before escaping through the same window.

Manager Jordan Mallier said staff were “gutted” to discover the burglary.

“We’ve all put a lot of work in,” he said. “I’ve been staying here late, the handyman has been staying here late.

“We’ve been ordering stuff and eventually all we were waiting for is one piece of furniture.

“The sofa arrives and then somebody steals the TV off the wall.

“We were waiting for a couple of bar stools but they were more for show, the sofa was the thing that finished it all off.

“All we needed to do was a bit of painting and it would be up and running. Now we’re waiting again.”

The care home, which looks after 24 residents with mental health needs, is insured meaning the TV will be replaced.

But care centre staff aren’t sure whether it will be done in time for Christmas, meaning residents might have to wait a little longer for the grand opening.

A handful of residents have already been into the room to play pool and darts, but larger groups haven’t been in yet.

“People are really enjoying it,” Mr Mallier said.

“It’s something a bit different. We wanted a bit more of a pub feel, something a bit more social to go alongside the cinema and TV room.

“We’re still hoping to get some more stuff to go on the walls so it looks more and more like a sports bar, but that will come in time.”

Police have launched an investigation into the break in which happened between 8pm Thursday and 9am Friday.

If you saw anything suspicious call Coventry Police on 101.

[rebbonk]

We are far too soft on crime. - The scum that did this ought be publicly birched.