How could they? Pensioner's Wolverhampton home burgled while he visited his sick wife
Burglars ransacked the home of a great-grandfather while he was visiting his sick wife in hospital, leaving him devastated and afraid to live in the property.
Roy Cooper returned from visiting his wife of 63 years to discover their bungalow in Compton, Wolverhampton, had been raided.
Now friends and neighbours are rallying round to replace the television that was stolen and install CCTV to allay his fears that the intruders will return.
Mr Cooper, aged 85, broke down when he discovered the break-in after spending nine hours at his wife's bedside.
"I was crying. It hurt me to have to leave my wife in hospital, and then to come home to this," he said.
The thieves stole a safe which contained mementoes of their family life over six decades, later recovered by police in the canal nearby but the contents were sodden and ruined.
They included his Army discharge book, his son's apprenticeship certificate and letters from friends in America as well as the couple's passports.
Mr Cooper, who suffers from bowel cancer, said: "They were looking for money but there was only memories in there."
He had arrived at Oxley Lodge care home where his 89-year-old wife has been a resident for three months to find an ambulance outside the premises and his wife collapsed in the lift inside.
He spent all day at New Cross Hospital at her bedside before arriving at his bungalow off Henwood Road at 9pm.
"I first noticed the doors were open and I thought that was queer as I always shut them. Then I walked into the living room and realised there was a big white space where the television had been - it was a 48 inch screen, so it hit me it was gone.
"I went to look in the bedrooms and every drawer and wardrobe door was open and everything strewn everywhere. It was terrible.
"I always keep it nice in case my wife comes back to live here but it was a mess."
Police officers made house-to-house inquiries and a forensic team attended the scene. It is not clear how the intruders gained entry. Wolverhampton Homes also attended and changed the locks.
The couple had lived in the bungalow for 15 years but Mr Cooper says he is now nervous to return there. Friends of the family are rallying together to replace the TV and arrange for CCTV security at the property.
Granddaughter Adele Cox, 29, said: "It's heartbreaking. He's been through such a lot, he could easily have taken tablets and ended it all but he's staying strong for my gran."
