A family’s Christmas spirit was shattered after callous thieves broke in and took off with two cars, a handbag, and a horde of Christmas presents during the early morning hours. The heartbroken household members awoke to find their possessions gone, following the intruders’ forceful entry through the rear door.
The robbers cleared out all the Christmas gifts lying beneath the tree at their Ford estate home in Litherland, nicking toys, garments, Lego sets, whiskey, among other items. Missing from the property were also a white Ford Fiesta and a white Ford Puma.
The incident on Sunday, December 15, was painfully recounted by 36 year old Phillip Meadows to the ECHO when he shared that his wife had been busy wrapping festive gifts at her mothers residence, only to return to the devastation the next day. Phillip explained: “My wife went round to my mother-in-law’s to wrap all the Christmas presents.”
“She left around 1.30am, and then she came home and we went to bed. The next morning we were woken up early in the morning by another family member to say their mum’s house had been robbed.”
Phillip conveyed the family’s shock at not having heard any disturbance as the thieves carried out the looting. He continued: “They just came downstairs in the morning and it was all gone. I think [the burglars] just came round to get the cars, and then as they’ve come in through the back, they’ve spotted all the Christmas presents and thought, ‘oh, we’ll take them as well’.”
Phillip recounted a distressing event where approximately £1500 worth of items were taken from beneath the Christmas tree as his in-laws slept upstairs. The thieves also made off with his mother-in-law’s handbag, which contained car keys and keys to their home, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The aftermath of the burglary forced the family to replace “every single lock in the house” costing them about £750. Phillip shared that his mother-in-law is “very shaken up” and “absolutely devastated” following the ordeal.
He continued: “She wants to get Christmas out of the way and then they’re looking at moving. We’re obviously still shaken up but everyone is okay. I know me and my wife are a lot more cautious now with making sure the doors are locked and taking the car keys up to bed with us. We’re planning on getting CCTV on our house as extra security.”
In an effort to restore some holiday cheer, Phillip has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to “help get Christmas back” for his family. Those who wish to contribute to the fundraiser can do so here.
A representative for Merseyside Police confirmed: “We can confirm an investigation is underway following a burglary in Litherland in the early hours of Sunday 15 December. At around 6.50am, a resident of [the Ford estate] reported that access had been gained to the premises during the night and car keys, two vehicles and presents were reportedly stolen.”
“CCTV, forensic, doorcam and other enquiries are ongoing. If you live locally and saw, heard or captured anyone acting suspiciously between around 2.30am and 6am, please contact us @MerPolCC or 101, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with reference 24001052231.”