Sorry to hear that. Cant see things getting any better either with people finding times so tough it drives some to turn to crime .Sad when you have to nail everything down that moves, to protect it .

Sorry to disagree, but tough times or not, these thieves don't break into sheds to steal in order to pay their bills and feed their kids. The country has a raging and endemic drugs problem. Most crime at this level is committed in order to fund the drug habits of wasters who have chosen drugs as their lifestyle. I've never heard of a thief coming before the courts and in mitigation excusing their behaviour because they couldn't feed their family or pay their bills.
Time and time again, defence lawyers tell the courts that their client has a serious drug addiction problem; hence the reason they committed the crime. I look forward to the first time ever when I read that "poverty" was the cause of the offence, with the excuse offered that it was the only way to put a leg of lamb on the table to feed my starving kids on a Sunday, your honour. They can't put that forward in mitigation as their antecedent history is always read out to the courts including what income they have whether that be earned in gainful employment or via benefits.