Hamster’s throat slashed during break-in at Romford family home

A mother has spoken of the horrifying moment she found her daughter’s hamster lying in a pool of blood after thieves had broken in and slashed its throat.

Ms Owen, who did not wish to give her first name, was confronted with the shocking sight when she returned to her home in Saffron Road, Romford, last Friday afternoon.

The single mum-of-two believes burglars smashed their way in through the back door but cannot understand why they killed the family pet and only made off with a pair of worn-out children’s trainers.

This is the third time intruders have ransacked Ms Owen’s home in the last eight months.

She has been so shaken by this latest incident that she no longer feels able to live there.

She said: “It was a cruel and disgusting thing to happen and I can’t believe someone would do that. They have to be pretty sick.

“I am never going to get that image out of my head. I will never feel safe there again.”

When the 39-year-old’s home was burgled in April, thieves stole a broken laptop and an old phone.

When she was targeted again in July they took her eight-year-old daughter’s birthday money and a bracelet that had been bought for her 30th birthday by her late mother.

Ms Owen continued: “The second burglary they got a fingerprint for, but nothing came of it. I had to swallow that and get on with my life, but now I just really wish I knew who was doing it.”

The children were devastated when Ms Owen broke the news. She told them their hamster, named after book character Tracy Beaker, had “gone to heaven”.

They are currently staying with her sister while she applies to Havering Council for a new property.

Police believe the incident happened between 8.40am and 1pm.

Officers said they were keeping an open mind about the motive for the attack.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Kieran Brownsell from Havering’s Serious Acquisitive Crime Unit on 101, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.