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According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 9.4% of households (919,500) experienced one or more selected household crimes in 2020-2021, including break-ins; attempted break-ins and; motor vehicle theft.
Sydneysider Ella Ponce was at her home in Blacktown, sleeping in a room on the second floor with her two youngest children, when three men broke in and stole her valuables and car worth $100,000.
Highlights
- Three masked men entered Ella's home and stole her car and valuables worth $100,000.
- Ella admits to feeling paranoid and being fearful after the ordeal.
- The best ways to fight back are to think of your safety first and to have presence of mind.
The break-in
The three men entered her home at night, while the family slept. Ella found out about the burglary when she woke up and went down for a coffee.
"I noticed the door of the garage was open and the light was on. I thought my son had left it that way; but then I noticed the the window was wide open as well."
She then realised that her car, some designer bags and jewellery were missing.
"I don't really hide my valuables like others do. I have everything everywhere," she admits.
Ella realised that her car, some designer bags and jewellery were missing. Source: Ella Ponce
Ella lives alone majority of the time. Her two youngest live with their father some days of the week, while her other three children are grown-up and living on their own.
Often hosting donation drives at her home, Ella believes that whoever broke in knew that she was living alone. She believes that the culprits had burglarised other homes before because they knew how to open her door and window.
"They tried to turn off my CCTV as well, but luckily my cameras kept on recording.
"I couldn't believe what happened. I immediately reported the break-in to the police."
A few days after the break-in at Ella's home, an unidentified Filipina was robbed in front of her house in the neighbouring suburb of Doonside.
The trauma
It's been four weeks since Ella's home was ransacked and she admits that she has been left traumatised by the ordeal.
"I'm still paranoid. Wherever I go, I keep an eye out for my car. I search for it on Facebook, just in case someone is selling it. I look around, watching for people with hoodies on. I still can't sleep."
Although she is grateful that her family was left unharmed, she says that she remains fearful.
"I fear for my kids. I don't know if those guys are still on the run. I don't know if they have connections."
Experiencing a break-in can leave you traumatised and fearful. Source: MART PRODUCTION from Pexels
While psychological help is available to victims of crime, Ella shares that she is coping through work and attempting normalcy.
"All I want is peace of mind. I want my normal self back. I'm not after the things that were taken. I just want my life to be normal again."
Ella's things have yet to be recovered. The three suspects are still at large.
Letting go and presence of mind
While it might be difficult to let valuables go, blackbelter Marco Tamayo of Kamao Martial Arts, NSW emphasises that safety takes precedence over material things.
"If you practice martial arts, with years of practice and training, defending yourself will be a reflex. For anyone else, it's better to just let the items go and think of your safety."
Marco encourages victims to disregard the cost of their possessions and think of the possibility that culprits may carry back-up weapons with them.
"They are desperate to get something from you. They're fully aware of everything. We're the ones who are taken by surprise.
Blackbelter and coach Marco Tamayo [L] with Rolly Tandang, founder of Kamao Martial Arts, NSW. Source: Marco Tamayo
"Just let the bag go, let the item go. You can replace those posessions. You can't replace your life."
However, he says that if you need to defend yourself, you can use what you have as a weapon and you haev to make a lot of noise.
"Have presence of mind. If the thief enters your home and they don't see you, lock your door, grab your mobile phone and hide. Call the police right away. Don't confront the criminal and fight. He might have a gun on him.
"If you want to learn how to physically defend yourself, enrol in a class and develop your reflexes. You'll also learn how to better decipher a situation so you make the best decisions."
For more information on how you can keep yourself and home safe, read Burglary Prevention by the Australian Institute of Criminology
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