They operate “in a few minutes”, always during the day, “between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.”, systematically in houses without an alarm system. Commander Isabelle Labat, interim boss of the Saintes police station, confirms a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries that residents have suffered since September.
The perpetrators used a pickaxe stored in a garden shed to break the door located at the back of this house on rue Marcellin-Berthelot in several places.
S. J. / SO
“We had around ten in September; it stabilized in October and gained momentum in November, with around twenty burglaries. » That’s almost 50 homes visited over the past three months. Other characteristics: the victims mostly reside on the right bank of the Charente and the thieves target jewelry.
The garden pickaxe
Among the latest victims of this wave of burglaries, a couple from rue Marcellin-Berthelot, not far from the Abbaye aux Dames. He lives in a two-story house. Tuesday November 26, he is absent for a meeting in La Rochelle. “We left around 10 a.m., we came back around 3:15 p.m..” When we returned, the garage light was on. Inside, things were moved around, but no breakage. “They didn’t touch the motorcycle” but “all the doors are open”. Mr. and Mrs. go upstairs.
The door leading onto a terrace platform, on the garden side, was broken. “With my pickaxe,” sighs Monsieur. The tool was stored in a garden shed and was found nearby by the national police. The couple remains stunned that the perpetrators could have acted in broad daylight. The individuals took three pieces of jewelry, hidden in the marital bedroom. The couple reports other thefts suffered by acquaintances in recent times. With, as a result, a daily life that is sometimes turned upside down. “They are so afraid that someone will come back that they go out separately. One always stays at home. »
Unsuccessful rounds
For Commander Labat, “several people are on the lookout”. Identifying targets depends on work schedules or well-established habits. “Elderly people have been robbed while they were going to the market, for example. » Additional rounds did not identify possible perpetrators. The police were interested in commercial canvassing, but eliminated this lead. Despite the multiplicity of facts, “we have no reports”. As for the stolen jewelry, it has not been spotted on any resale market yet.
Commander Labat therefore calls on anyone who has any doubts about a person who seems to be monitoring a street, for example, to dial 17. “Even a harmless clue, like a license plate, can help us. » For less “hot” items, write to the police station on [email protected].
The head of the Saintes police station finally gives some common sense advice such as “lock the exits securely even if you don’t leave for long”. Bay windows are vulnerable points. As for the couple from rue Marcellin-Berthelot, they bought a “howler” system the day after the burglary.
