A couple whose flood-stricken home was “ransacked” and their belongings sold on have told of how they had to practically solve the case themselves.
The pair, who do not want to be named, were victims of a burglary with £4,000 worth of items - including their five-year-old son’s birthday presents - taken.
It was only when they used an app to track their stolen iPad that police were led to Glascoed Avenue in Kinmel Bay.
There, officers discovered CCTV footage of Michelle Coombes accepting the stolen goodsfrom Kevin Leonard Harrop, 20, of Marine Road, Pensarn, and Alex Michael Coxon, 18, of Rhys Avenue, Kinmel Bay.
The two men were locked up last week after admitting a charge of handling goods from the property and were given terms of 10 months and eight months respectively in young offender institutions.
Coombes, 46 also admitted a charge of handling stolen goods but was spared a jail term.
Instead she was given a six month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
Today, the victims expressed outrage at the lenient sentences and criticised the way North Wales Police dealt with the case.
Speaking to the Daily Post, the couple, who have three children, said: “Our home was flooded on April 15 after a pipe on the bathroom sink burst.
“The water was around two to three inches deep and all but two bedrooms were completely ruined.
“We were put up in emergency accommodation and the clear-up team came out and started boxing the things that could be salvaged.
“In the early hours of April 19, we received a phone call from the police to say the house had been burgled.
“When we got there, we found it completely ransacked.”
They added: “The burglars ripped TVs off the walls, emptied every drawer and cupboard, trashed our children’s bedrooms and took everything that had been boxed up.
“They stole electrical items, jewellery, X-Boxes, DVDs, our son’s birthday presents, wedding gifts and an iPad collectively worth around £4,000.
“But the police didn’t seem too interested. They kept saying they would keep us informed but instead fobbed us off.
“We decided to try to do something ourselves and even used the app which in less than 10 minutes traced the iPad to Glascoed Avenue.
“It was only when we told the police we were going to go around there ourselves that they stepped in and went to Coombes’ house.”
Coombes came unstuck when officers checked her CCTV systems which showed her accepting items from members of the local gang she claimed she was “petrified” of.
She had installed the CCTV system to protect herself.
Harrop and Coxon had denied burglary but admitted handling.
The couple added: “We are disappointed in the police and the sentencing.
“Coombes, Harrop and Coxon haven’t been given a sentence long enough to have any impact, it’s a joke.
“We have been left so upset by this, it’s been so hard.
“The police said they would keep us in the loop about the investigation but they didn’t. We only ever thought Coombes was being prosecuted, we knew nothing about the two men until we read about it in the paper.
“The whole thing has been an absolute farce.”
Chief Inspector Paul Joyce from North Wales Police said: “Such offences are always treated seriously.
“Our investigations began immediately following the report and specialist officers were tasked to attend.
“We welcome the fact that people have been brought to justice. The assistance provided by victims coupled with the thorough investigation undertaken by CID all helped to secure this conviction.”
He added: “We always welcome feedback and would be happy to speak to the individuals directly to discuss any concerns.”
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/kinmel-bay-couple-whose-home-11656461
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