[BITList] A burglar writes: ‘Dear Victim, I’m not sorry. It was your own fault anyways’ | The Times

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A burglar writes: ‘Dear Victim, I’m not sorry. It was your own fault anyways’

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The letter written by the teenage burglar to his victim West Yorkshire Police/PA
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The letter written by the teenage burglar to his victim West Yorkshire Police/PA
Russell Jenkins
November 24 2011 12:01AM
An habitual teenage burglar appeared unable to grasp the concept of contrition when he was asked to write a letter of apology to his victims as part of his punishment.
Instead of saying sorry, the 16-year-old told a family that he was far from feeling apologetic and suggested it was their own fault they were targeted. They had been “dumb” for not drawing their curtains and for leaving the kitchen window unlocked.
The juvenile offender had struck in the Moortown area of Leeds, making off with televisions, a camera and a PlayStation 3. Many of the stolen goods were recovered when he was arrested.
He was ordered to carry out a 12-month intensive supervision and surveillance programme as an alternative to custody in a young offender institution. The letter is supposed to be an important part of the punishment.
“I’m not bothered or sorry about the fact that I burgled your house,” he wrote.
The letter was never sent to the victims, but West Yorkshire Police were so struck by the burglar’s brazen vehemence and the letter’s “coldheartedness” that they have placed it centre stage in a campaign to encourage householders to make their properties more secure this Christmas.
Chief Inspector Melanie Jones said: “We are working hard to target and reduce burglary but the biggest impact we can make is by working together to ensure burglars are not given a series of easy targets.
“The contents of the letter are disgusting but it highlights the cold and dispassionate way burglars select a property to target.”
Sharon Hamilton, a Labour councillor for Moortown, said: “How dare he? It is not for him to be telling people in the area, who have worked hard to have what they have, how to look after their homes. He has no right to be breaking into their homes.”
A spokesman for UK Neighbourhood Watch Trust said it was “appalling” that the kind of advice it has been advocating for years should come from “a perpetrator who is not indicating any level of remorse and basically laying the blame on the victims”.
Officers did not say last night whether or how the 16-year-old was punished for his disobedience.
The criminal viewpoint
Dear Victim,
I don’t no why I am writing a letter to you! I have been forced to write this letter by ISSP. To be honest I’m not bothered or sorry about the fact that I burgled your house. Basicly it was your own fault anyways.
I’m going to run you through the dumb mistakes you made. Firstly you didn’t draw your curtains which most people now to do before they go to sleep.
Secondly your dumb you live in Stainburns a high risk burglary area and your thick enough to leave your downstairs kitchen window open. I wouldnt do that in a million years. But anyways I don’t feel sorry for you and Im not going to show any sympath or remores.
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