Burglary victims are urging others to study their insurance conditions after treasured watches and family jewellery were stolen in a raid on their home.
Jannette and Douglas Gillies, of Berry Brow, were devastated when they returned from a holiday in Spain to find their home ransacked.
And now they face an anxious wait to find out if their insurance provider Policy Expert will cover them for their losses – totalling several hundred pounds – because they didn’t take photographs of their valuables or keep receipts.
The company say they are taking the claim forward after bringing in a jewellery specialist but the couple are advising other people to ensure their homes are properly secure and that they have read their insurance conditions carefully.
Jannette, 67, said: “We’ve just lost everything that meant something to us. We still can’t believe it.
“All my inherited family jewellery such as the wedding and engagement rings of my mother, gold watches belonging to me and my mother, my husband’s gold watch, a silver charm bracelet, every other piece of gold jewellery and our laptop.
“They even took things that would have had no value at all, such as my children’s birth bands. It makes me feel so sad.
“Most are things that just can’t be replaced because they are so personal.”
Jannette believes burglars struck at night and disabled the house alarm.
But she and her husband were left shattered when they found out it could be difficult to put in a successful claim with their claim providers Trinity M, who work on behalf of Policy Expert.
“We rang the insurance company straight away but had to call back because the first time they said that we didn’t have a policy with them when we knew we did,” said Jannette. “We have paid £164 for it.
“Eventually they found our information but then said they needed photographs of everything that was stolen plus receipts.
“We don’t have any receipts or clear photos and were told we would struggle to claim.
“We’re still waiting for them to make a decision and it’s been very frustrating. It is so important that other people keep their documents.”
The couple have also improved their house security by fitting sash jammers, inside security hinges which make it harder for criminals to open windows or patio doors.
A spokesman for Policy Expert said: “We have been working with Mr and Mrs Gillies to estimate a value for the jewellery involved in this claim, in order for us to progress.
“A jewellery specialist was brought in to help ascertain as much detail as possible. We have now received a report back from the specialist, which will allow us to take the claim forward.”
In unrelated investigations, police would like to speak to the people pictured in the image gallery below. The people pictured in the images may be witnesses as well as suspects. If you recognise anyone, contact police on 101 quoting the reference number on the image caption.
