Police slated over burglary response

Kevin Marsh and his wife Christine were told not to touch anything or clear up any mess left behind by the burglars who kept the back door and windows open, emptied cupboards and wardrobes and rifled through personal possessions.

After calling the police at 5.30pm the couple made sure they didn't destroy any vital forensic evidence but had to wait until nearly midnight when two police officers arrived at their Eastleigh home to take statements.

Even by the following morning Mr and Mrs Marsh had to avoid touching anything in the house until scenes of crime officers arrived at lunchtime.

The couple, who estimate that the thieves took in the region of £6,000 of personal items including two laptops, digital cameras, jewellery and an engagement ring, are angry it took so long for the police to act.

Sales executive Mr Marsh, 56, said: "When I called the police we were told not to touch anything. After waiting for around an hour I rang the police control room and was told that we were in a queue but there were only four officers covering the whole of the Eastleigh borough.

"My daughter went to Eastleigh Police Station just after 7pm and nearly said that we were on a list.

"It was difficult for us because the door and windows were still open and we could not touch anything. We did not even make a cup of tea.

"There were lots of cupboards and boxes all over the place."

"Our main gripe is that it took more than six hours to respond. We just wanted it cleared up really quickly."

He added that the long wait for a police response to their plight had added to the misery experienced by his wife Christine, 59, and daughter Helen, 26, following the burglary.

However, Mr Marsh said that when the police officers eventually turned up they did a very good job.

A police spokesman said: "The circumstances involving the police response are being looked into."