A woman has spoken of her heartache after her grandparents’ home in Hyde was broken into and trashed and family heirlooms were stolen.
Becky Griffiths, 32, who grew up in Ashton-under-Lyne and Dukinfield, said thieves broke into her grandparents' home on Read Street in Hyde and "absolutely trashed" the property. They stole a number of items, including two white BMW cars, jewellery and a tuba.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday (28 May) while Becky's grandparents, Jimmy and Jean Griffiths, both 76, were away for the night. Thieves tried to force their way in through the front door and smashed the windows to access the property.
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Later that day, after the thieves had gone, passers-by who were walking their dogs, noticed the smashed glass all over the property. They then called the police, who then contacted Becky's grandad to tell him the house was broken into.
Photos show shards of glass strewn all over the entrance of the house, and and cabinets and drawers flung open, with belongings piled all over the rooms. Becky told the M.E.N. how devastating the ordeal has been for her family, especially as her grandparents are "like a second set of parents" to her.
She said: "I just feel lost for words. It’s heartbreaking. The thieves have broken in to the house and absolutely ransacked the place and trashed it. It's heartbreaking to see the house damaged.
"That is the house I go to every week. My grandma did not even want to go in at first, she was like, 'I am just going to wait out here.'
"My grandad built that house from scratch on his own. They have lived there for years.
"They can’t even sleep in there now. The thieves broke walls down in the loft- I don’t know what they think they would find in there. T hey completely ransacked the loft. They have pulled out folders full of Mothers' Day cards which Gran has kept over the years.
"It must have been someone who knew that my grandparents were away for the night, so they have taken advantage of that.
"It's horrible. I broke down crying when I heard the news."
The house will have to undergo extensive cleaning and repairing, and new windows will have to be fitted. The damage was so bad, that it was impossible to enter the property at first, due to the amount of shattered glass all around the premises.
Becky continued: "There will be lots of repair work needed in the house because the windows were smashed and the place was trashed. Some people seem to think that my grandparents have money, just because they have BMWs, but they are not rich, by any stretch of the imagination.
"It's not about the money. They are not young, they are in their 70s. My grandad has worked hard to get the cars he wants.
"Why woul d you do that to a couple of pensioners? I feel like they are going to be hermits now, they won’t leave the house again.
"Peo ple on Facebook are offering to help us clean up the house, which is really lovely. It's heart-warming and I appreciate every single one of those messages.
" The Boundary Pub in Audenshaw have offered my grandma and grandad a full course meal and a bottle of wine, which is so nice."
Stolen items include a heart pendant with a picture inside, a gold watch, a gold chain with the letter J on it, and a real sovereign ring. The sentimental value of the jewellery is what is most important to Becky and her family, and she is willing to offer a reward for their return.
"I want the jewellery back more than anything," the-mum-of-one said. "Gran's pendant has a picture of her father, who died when she was just seven years old.
"I remember when I was a little girl, I was sat on her knee and she was telling me stories about her dad and the picture was always in the pendant. I just want it back.
"And the sovereign ring, my grandad's late friend Harry gave it to him- Harry was lovely and really well-known around Hyde. He used to give talks around Hyde.
"I am worried that this will knock years off my gran's life. I am so cut up and broken.
"We are not asking for money, I just want the jewellery back and I will pay if anyone can return them.
"My grandparents are so special to me. My little boy is so lucky to have his great-grandparents- he is the apple of their eye.
"I love them so much and they don't deserve this."
Becky's grandad, Jimmy Griffiths, a retired coach company owner, said they are still cleaning up the huge mess in the house and assessing the damage.
The 76-year-old, who has been married to his wife, Jean, for nearly 60 years, said: "My wife and I went away for the weekend and we took our cat and dog with us.
"I got a phone call to say our house had been broken into. We came flying back and we saw the front door and windows completely smashed.
"We couldn't have brought the cat and dog into the house because the little bits of glass were everywhere, all outside. It was such a mess.
"We couldn't even get into the house or walk around on Sunday (29 May) because there was glass everywhere.
"The thieves have turned everything over in the house, looking for car keys. They have stolen small stuff, like my tuba, because I play with a band. I can't go to band practice now because I don't really have transport and I have too much to sort out.
"One of my wife's shopping bags is missing, so the thieves obviously grabbed it and started putting the smaller items in it. There are some objects that have been dragged and moved, so they've had their eye on it, but they haven't taken it.
"We know it was two lads who took the cars, because they were seen driving away and the police tracked them."
The incident has left the family shaken, but they are trying to move forward and sort things out with car insurance and home insurance, Jimmy said.
He added: "Some people have said, ' ‘why are you moaning, you must have plenty of money, because you have got two BMWs.' It sickens you, that.
"We are not rich people. I still don’t know everything that has been stolen yet.
"The thieves have emptied drawers and thrown them across the room. So I'll be repairing drawers and seeing what I can mend.
"It puts the fear of God up you, leaving the house now. But we are all okay and we just want to carry on."
A spokesperson for GMP confirmed that enquiries are on-going, saying: " Anyone with information is asked to report it online or via LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
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