Homeowner wakes to find axeman has burgled him

3:02pm Thursday 3rd May 2001

A BURGLARY victim has spoken of his fear after finding an axe lying on his dining room table.

The victim, of Tylsworth Close, Amersham, found the heavy-duty weapon at his home when he got out of bed to investigate the sound of a window being smashed.

The resident, in his 30s, was asleep with his wife when he was woken by suspicious noises at about 4.30am on April 24.

He said: "We were in bed when we heard glass breaking. We got up to go downstairs but we didn't see the person who was in the house but we saw an axe on the table. It was very scary."

The axe was one metre in length and used to smash a front window before entry was gained.

The thief stole a laptop worth £1,300 and caused £250 worth of damage.

He said: "Nothing like this has ever happened to us before. We didn't know what was happening but it was frightening. It's hard to say what I would've done if we had seen him. But I suppose when he heard we were moving he was in a hurry and he left the axe."

Kate Spark, spokesman for Thames Valley Police, warned people not to try and tackle intruders but call the police.

"If anyone does have any information about this particular incident we urge them to contact us," she said.

Any witnesses should call PC Andrew Ralph on (01494) 465888.

National news latest