'Horror' as burglar steals £80,000 worth of items

Edy Hernandez has been jailed for18 months

A burglar, who broke into the home of an elderly woman in Salisbury and stole £80,000 worth of personal items, has been jailed.

Edy Hernandez, of Wilton Avenue, Southampton, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft when he appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Friday 19 April.

In a personal impact statement, the 'heartbroken' victim said the incident left her feeling 'vulnerable' and unable to sleep at night.

Hernandez was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

'Horror and heartbreak'

The court heard on the night of 5 October 2023, Hernandez broke into the woman's home of a while she was away for the night.  

The 29-year-old forced his way in via an upstairs window and stole a flat screen television, a tablet, several suitcases, distinctive bottles of alcohol and jewellery including diamond rings, diamond earrings, broaches, pendants, pearl chains, ruby ring and Georgian drop diamond earrings.

When the victim returned to her home the following day, she found all her personal items stolen.

She said: “I cannot explain to you the feelings I experienced when I returned home on that day and discovered my house had been broken into.

"There was the horror and heartbreak of opening each door to see it had been searched and noticing sentimental items missing, praying that they had not been taken and I would later find them. I heavy heartedly knew this was wishful thinking.

“I just felt so vulnerable living alone and the nights after the burglary were very uncomfortable for me, up until I knew he had been caught."

'Extremely vulnerable and anxious'

Extensive enquiries led officers to arrest Hernandez the following month. Some of the stolen items were seized from his address in Southampton.

Det Sgt Ted Roe said: “Burglary is a completely invasive crime – by doing what he did, Hernandez has left this lady feeling extremely vulnerable and anxious in the one place she should feel most safe.

"To take someone’s sense of security and invade their privacy in this way is totally unacceptable and our Burglary Team is fully committed to targeting offenders like Hernandez and ensuring they are put before the courts.”