Scared couple keep knife under pillow (From This Is Lancashire)

Scared couple keep knife under pillow

8:50am Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News

A COUPLE are so scared of living in their own home after four break-ins that they now sleep with a knife under their pillow.

David Drinkwater and Liz Thomas, who have a three-year-old son, Lewis, say they have been targeted by burglars four times in the last four years.

Police have warned people that they should not arm themselves or try to take the law into their own hands.

The incidents all took place late at night, on some occasions when the couple were asleep at their home in Aldred Street, Daubhill.

The latest attempt happened last month, when would-be thieves failed to get inside.

Police said they were investigating the incident, which happened between 5pm on September 12 and noon on September 13.

Mr Drinkwater thinks it happened in the early hours and said the family were scared because the bedroom door was open.

The 27-year-old said: “My partner now sleeps in bed with a knife because she is that afraid.

“The most recent burglary happened when my partner was here on her own.

“She was asleep upstairs with our three-year-old.

“Our house is being targeted for some reason, we don’t know why. It seems to keep happening every seven or eight months. It is now getting beyond a joke. We can’t live in fear like this.”

Mr Drinkwater said the first burglary was in 2008, when thieves smashed a back window, ransacked the house and took an XBox, jewellery and DVD player.

The second time, someone tried to prise open the windows, but failed because they were locked.

Another time intruders managed to get inside when the family was asleep, but they were disturbed and fled without taking anything, Mr Drinkwater said.

PCSO Paul Dootson, who is responsible for the area, said he had spoken to the couple about improving their security and that anti-burglary operations were being carried out in the area.

He said: “People need to be careful with sleeping with weapons under their pillow. If someone breaks in, people can only use reasonable force. The police do not advise this. If you need help, ring us — don’t get yourself in trouble by taking the law into your own hands.”