A pensioner is ‘heartbroken’ after items worth £80,000 were stolen in a burglary.
Edy Hernandez raided a woman’s home in Salisbury after forcing his way in through an upstairs window on 5 October last year.
The 29-year-old took jewellery including diamond rings, diamond earrings, broaches, pendants, pearl chains, ruby ring and Georgian drop diamond earrings.
He also stole a flat screen television, a tablet, several suitcases and distinctive bottles of alcohol.
When the victim, aged in her 70s, returned home from a night away she found her property had been ransacked – and the police were contacted.
Officers and forensics attended the scene and an investigation was launched, with Hernandez, of Wilton Avenue, Southampton, arrested the following month.
At Southampton Crown Court on Friday (19 April), he was jailed for 18 months.
In a victim person statement, the woman described how the incident has changed her life.
She said: “I cannot explain to you the feelings I experienced when I returned home on that day and discovered my house had been broken into.
“There was the horror and heartbreak of opening each door to see it had been searched and noticing sentimental items missing, praying that they had not been taken and I would later find them. I heavy heartedly knew this was wishful thinking.
“I just felt so vulnerable living alone and the nights after the burglary were very uncomfortable for me, up until I knew he had been caught. I would hear every noise and wake up worried that he had returned.
“To have that feeling of being scared in your own house is horrible. He not only took my property but he took away my sense of security in my own home.
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the police who have been efficient and very supportive. Without them, this whole affair would have been very much harder to deal with.”
Det Sgt Ted Roe said: “Burglary is a completely invasive crime – by doing what he did, Hernandez has left this lady feeling extremely vulnerable and anxious in the one place she should feel most safe.
“To take someone’s sense of security and invade their privacy in this way is totally unacceptable and our Burglary Team is fully committed to targeting offenders like Hernandez and ensuring they are put before the courts.”
