Woman offers reward for ‘priceless’ stolen necklace

A BRITISH couple in Pinoso who were recently burgled are offering a reward for anyone who can give any information that leads to the return of the stolen jewellery.

Despite having two large dogs and metal bars on the windows, their finca in Pinoso (Alicante Province) was broken into in broad daylight.

The thief made-off with expensive gold and diamond jewellery as well as some ornate ironwork pieces.

Despite ignoring television sets and other electronic equipment, the burglar also made off with candleholders worth only €5. “I am absolutely gutted,” said Lesley Rowland, who is originally from Darlington in the north-east of the UK and moved to Spain two years ago.

“Some of the items were unique and irreplaceable as well as of sentimental value, so priceless really.” Lesley and her husband David bought the 375 diamond necklace set in gold in Goa (India) a few years ago as an investment.

“Unfortunately the valuation papers, which show an amount more than what we paid, also disappeared, we think the burglar took that as well,” said Lesley.

The other two items stolen included Lesley’s late mother’s diamond engagement ring and a pair of jade cufflinks given to David by his late uncle.

“I kept them in a jewellery box that was in my underwear drawer, I didn’t think someone would look there,” she said. The burglary has left the couple fearful that the burglar will return.

“We are just waiting for the burglar to come back and clear the house as he has seen what we have,” she said. “David has been lodging furniture up against doors as an extra defence as I am so scared,” said Lesley.

David thinks that the burglar acted on his own on this occasion. “The television was on the terrace and it would have been easy for the burglar take it, only there is a verge that he would not be able to carry bulky items down without dropping them,” he explained.

“We have now moved the TV to a more secure location and the grills have been repaired.” Neighbours believe they saw the burglar, but at the time did not think anything of it.

“It would appear that the burglar struck sometime between 8.30am and 10.30am as a dark coloured car was seen by a neighbour driving away from our house,” he said.

“It seems like he was disturbed. I saw a blonde haired man driving a dark green Fiat Tempra the following day that looked suspicious, I have given the partial license plate number to the Guardia Civil.”

David thinks the burglar forced open the 16mm metal bars using a long wooden plank that had been left near the opening made. “When we arrived home we thought it strange that the lights were on, then when we went in we saw that the place had been ransacked and realised we had been burgled.”

One would have thought their two big dogs would have been a deterrent. “Our Spanish Mastiff is in heat and keeps digging a hole under the fence to escape,” said David.

“I think that they must have both been off gallivanting with other dogs at the time.” This was the second robbery in just two days in the area. “On the other side of Pinoso another property was burgled, but everything was taken including clothes, medication and cutlery, the police told me,” he said. I think they were left with two spoons.”

Lesley has changed her opinion of the place she has lived in for two years.

When Lesley and David first bought the place they say they would not have worried if they had forgotten to lock the door, but now people need to be more careful.

“With the economic crisis there are so many more people with no money,” she said. Readers with any information or to enquire about the reward should email davidrowland30@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 634 365 221. CAPTION: REWARD OFFERED: The stolen diamond and gold necklace.