A RESIDENT in Astley Bridge caught a man on CCTV trying to open his front door during a children’s sleepover.
Steven Donaldson had been out taking his friend to the airport and didn’t think anything of it when he saw that his window was open wide on his return.
It was only upon checking the CCTV footage, that Steven then realised someone had tried to open his front door last Saturday (April 2nd) during a sleepover with his children, and his nieces and nephews.
Steven says that he and his partner Emily made sure they double-locked the doors and windows, but that one of the children had opened the window because they were too warm.
He said: “I pushed the window shut when I saw it and didn’t think anything of it.
“But when I looked at the CCTV, I realised all of the children had their blankets and covers with them then.
“He could have seen them because they were downstairs in the living room.
“He was at the front for 31 seconds, which is a long time. It could have been so much worse.”
Steven said that there weren’t any items missing, but he is concerned about what could have happened if their door was unlocked or he had climbed through the window.
He says that he has experienced issues like this since he moved in, which is one of the reasons he is considering moving.
On one occasion he says that when he forgot to lock his car, someone went on a shopping spree with his partner’s credit card, and they 'hadn't even moved in'.
He added: “It has become normal, and we have become desensitized to it.
“But there wasn't any crime for a while on the streets, until Saturday."
He says that they don’t always check CCTV, and he fears how many other times his house has been approached without his knowledge.
Cllr Hilary Fairclough who represents Astley Bridge said that she is aware of the issue and is taking a proactive approach on the matter.
She said: “It’s always been the case that people are wandering through the night. They are just hoping that one door is open.
“CCTV is helpful in one respect for police, but it can be so disappointing when it doesn’t lead to prosecution.
“The police are aware, and we have really seen a much more proactive approach from the police recently.
“It’s really important that you report any issues to the police. If police have got complaints around something it gives them the information they need to look at it further.”
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