But when the man goes downstairs, he soon realises something is wrong. There is a draught blowing through his home and he can hear the distant rumble of the motorway. He soon finds out why.
In one of the rooms a window has disappeared. It’s not that the glass has been smashed, it has literally vanished. A computer, a wristwatch and a jacket with a wallet inside are also gone. The Castle Bromwich man has just become the latest local victim of burglars.
The scenario I’ve just described isn’t taken from some police public awareness campaign. It was a real-life break-in which happened on the Parkfields estate four years ago.
I know, because police had taken me inside the semi-detached home and shown me the space where the window used to me.
The officers explained that the beading had been painstakingly picked from the frame, allowing burglars to slide out the pane of glass.
It’s an “old school” tactic and, for those who know what they’re doing, creates little noise; the family had all been sleeping upstairs and not one of them woke up.
The father, who was among the street’s longest-standing residents, graciously agreed to speak to me about what had clearly been a very upsetting 24 hours.
“My family were worried,” he told me. “I just feel angry and ask why some scum thinks that they can steal other people’s possessions.
“The things that were stolen we’ve had to work hard to buy. I don’t want to feel like I have to make my home a fortress.”
Whenever I’ve spoken to senior police officers in the past, they almost always name burglary as
one of their top priorities. In all likelihood they remember meeting victims during their days as a constable and the sense of powerlessness, of violation, that arises from the offence.
Break-ins happen throughout the year, although Solihull Police will tend to mount special awareness campaigns once the clocks go back; the long nights bring with them an increase in burglary offences.
The patrol I joined in 2011 was part of Operation Slade – an initiative which specifically targeted this type of crime.
I spent the evening with Sergeant Peter Wall, who explained that the force were using a relatively new tactic known as “cocooning.”
This practice involves visiting families near to where a burglary has taken place, offering reassurance and advice. The aim being to prevent a spate of similar break-ins being perpetrated in the same neighbourhood.
Our patrol took us around Green Lane, Water Orton Road and the various side streets, on the look-out for any suspicious activity. The beginnings of a frost and the glitter of Christmas tree decorations made for an attractive scene, but attracting what?
A number of times he pressed the point that a few simple measures may reduce the risk of someone being targeted.
“When people go out in the evening they should think about leaving some lights on. Anything that is going to put a little bit more doubt in a burglar’s mind, anything that may make them think twice about trying to break-in, could make all the difference.”
Operation Slade was to all intents and purposes a success and a report presented to Solihull Council the following year cited a number of significant arrests as a result.
Unfortunately burglary is a perennial problem and each year authorities must tackle the issue anew. Recent statistics suggest there are an average of two break-ins every day in the borough and a disproportionate number continue to be committed north of the A45.
This year officers are taking to Twitter in an effort to raise awareness. If you check #Solidarknights, you should be able to find updates about some of the initiatives taking place around the borough.
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