A burglary victim has criticised Essex Police for not “properly investigating” her case but choosing to investigate Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson.
Izzy Pinchen, 26, was living with her aunt and her aunt’s partner in Colchester when tens of thousands of pounds worth of belongings were stolen by one or more burglars smashing through the back of the property.
The house was empty at the time of the afternoon break-in, as the family were out for a brief dog walk.
Among valuable items taken during the July 2019 incident, such as antiques and jewellery were others of high sentimental value – including military medals which had belonged to her uncle’s grandfather.
Acting Corporal William Thomas Evans had served in the 7th Battalion Prince of Wales’s North Staffordshire Regiment.
However, after dusting for fingerprints and speaking to a direct neighbour, Ms Pinchen claims Essex Police rang the family to confirm their case would be closed around two weeks later.
The musician, who now lives in London, told The Telegraph: “The police came, they dusted fingerprints and stuff – nobody was on their records – they took statements and that was it.
“And then they said the likelihood of getting anything back that was taken was near to nought.”
Ms Pinchen, who believes the case was not “properly investigated”, added: “It [the case] was shut in around two weeks, it was quick.
“There was no follow-up or victim support.”
The criticism comes after Essex Police launched a criminal investigation into Pearson for allegedly stirring up racial hatred in a social media post last year.
Two officers visited Pearson’s Essex home on Remembrance Sunday as she was preparing to mark the day.
On Thursday, The Home Office confirmed it was reviewing how police recorded non-crime hate incidents to ensure they are “proportionate” and protect free speech.
Commenting on Ms Pearson’s visit by police officers, Ms Pinchen said: “If they have time to follow up on a Sunday afternoon on someone that has no prior record for something – what are they actually doing with public resources because they are obviously not following up on major crimes?
“Seeing them do that [Pearson investigation] is just ridiculous.
“We’re a police state now policing people’s ideologies rather than actually holding criminals to account.”
‘A deep sense of anger’
In a statement on Thursday night, Essex Police said of the burglary at Ms Pinchen’s house: “Our officers carried out house-to-house enquiries, sought CCTV from the area and any neighbouring properties.
“A forensics officer visited the property to collect evidence in a bid to identify the suspect or suspects in this investigation.
“Only after all lines of enquiry were exhausted was the decision taken to file this investigation.”
While the family were able to make a successful insurance claim, Ms Pinchen said they felt saddened and angry when the case was closed so quickly.
“There was a deep sense of anger,” she said.
“I remember them [aunt and aunt’s husband] just being at a loss because it was a lot of things that had been handed down like family heirlooms – they had been taken.
“So I think it was just a real sense of anger – firstly that someone could do that in the first place and take what isn’t theirs, but also that there was just no follow-up and nobody being held accountable for what happened.
“It’s just extremely sad.”
Police forces across the country have often been criticised for failing to attend all burglaries.
In 14 police forces last year, 6,568 burglaries did not get a police visit – according to a Telegraph Freedom of Information request.
Essex Police said its officers attended “99 per cent of all residential burglaries” and that they had charged 130 suspected burglars in the past year.
“We are bringing burglary down and we keep bringing burglary down,” the force said in a statement.
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