Burglars beneath contempt

Burglars beneath contempt

14 May 2014

A HEARTBROKEN Ballynahinch mother has condemned callous burglars who broke into her daughter’s home just days after she tragically took her own life.

Michelle Lowery says she cannot believe there are those who would stoop so low.

Sentimental items which belonged to her 20 year-old daughter, Natasha, were stolen during the burglary last week.

Mrs. Lowery had planned to keep some of the items — which included a selection of jewellery — and to distribute the rest to Natasha’s close friends.

Natasha’s Hillfoot Crescent home was targeted a week after her funeral service on April 27.

Mrs. Lowery is convinced that whoever broke into the three-bedroom house knew it was empty.

“Natasha’s home was targeted by burglars as we were in the process of clearing out all her things which was not an easy task,” she said.

The family’s suspicion was triggered when they discovered downstairs curtains, which they had pulled closed, were open and a temporary wooden panel fitted to the front door had been removed.

When Mrs. Lowery and one of her two sons went to the house there was no-one was inside, but a check of the living room revealed that items were missing.

“The first thing I checked was if a gold box containing Natasha’s jewellery was missing. I was horrified to discover that it was. These were sentimental items, precious only to me,” she continued.

“Whoever was in the house also went through Natasha’s purse and left it lying as there was no money in it.

“What hurts me so much is that these sentimental items, the stuff I wanted to keep, are gone. I was hysterical at this stage and couldn’t believe someone would do such a thing.”

Mrs. Lowery said blood stains found at the scene had been covered in bleach in order to destroy the DNA.

“We believe whoever targeted the home jumped out of the bathroom window at the rear onto a balcony and made their escape,” she said.

“We also suspect whoever broke into Natasha’s home used drugs they had brought with them in the very room where she died.

Mrs. Lowery suspects local people targeted her daughter’s home and would have been aware that the property was empty.

“There were days after her funeral when I just couldn’t go there. It was too emotional for all of us.

“This has been a hellish, traumatic experience, with the burglary compounding our family’s grief,” she continued.

“Hand on heart I would say local people broke into my daughter’s home. Such behaviour is disgraceful and I don’t believe it is a coincidence that Natasha’s home was targeted so soon after she died,” said the distraught mother.

Mrs. Lowery added: “Words really fail me that someone would do this. It is a disgrace and so very hard to take in. The sentimental items which were stolen are only of value to me. No one else. They are irreplaceable.”

The Ballynahinch mother has appealed to anyone who knows anything about the break-in to contact police.