Mum-of-two's plea for help after looters target fire-damaged Walsall home twice
“Two days after the fire I received a phone call telling me that children had entered the property and trashed it”
A family in Walsall whose home was devastated by fire say “looters” have since broken in to steal what was left, compounding their distress.
Lettisha Wyatt, 34 from Shelfield in Walsall, had her family home destroyed in a fire caused by an electrical fault with a heater at 4.30am on September 27. The fire destroyed windows and caused smoke damage throughout the house.
Although nobody was hurt in the fire, the house has been targeted by “looters” with youths breaking into the property and destroying what was left.
The mother-of-two said: “Just two days after the fire, I received a phone call telling me that children had entered the property and trashed it. They caused further damage to things that had survived the fire and stole belongings from our home.
“After the first break-in, a neighbour went out of their way by putting up a Heras fence to try to prevent anyone from getting back in but sadly, at around 2am last night (October 19), I received another phone call telling me that people had gained access to the property again!”
An online fundraiser has been set up with more than £700 raised so far towards a £3,500 target to help the family get back on their feet.
“Of course, there are things that money can never replace. School photographs, certificates and precious family memories are among the things we may have lost forever,” Lettisha added.
“These are the things that make a house a home, and losing them has been incredibly painful.
“I am incredibly grateful to the kind people who have already offered help and support.”
To learn more or donate, view the fundraiser on GoFundMe.
When contacted for a comment West Midlands Police said: “ Officers are carrying out enquiries into the burglary which is believed to happened at about 12:20am yesterday morning [20 October]. Thankfully nothing is reported to have been taken.
“We were also called to the property on 29 September at around 7pm to reports of children being inside.
“Officers attended and spoke with a group of children before they were returned to their homes.
“Anyone with information can contact us on 101 or via Live Chat on our website quoting crime reference 20/441930/26”