THE Chief Constable of Essex Police has criticised the officers who let a burglar off with a caution, after reading about it in the Chronicle.
Ireneusz Blaszczyk escaped a criminal charge after he ransacked a Chelmsford home last November and stole jewellery, a games console and even unwrapped a family's Christmas presents.
He handed himself in after a police appeal but, despite confessing to the burglary, he was offered a caution earlier this month, meaning he would not face a judge or jail.
Chief constable Jim Barker-McCardle said he was "staggered" by the decision and referred three police officers to the force's professional standards department.
He said: "I was extremely concerned at the police decision. Professionally I was staggered. Every bone in my body, every cell in my body, said this looked like a very bad decision by Essex Police. I remain of that view."
The chief constable said there were rare occasions where a prosecution is not sought, such as when the burglar is a family member.
"But absolutely not in this case," said Mr Barker-McCardle, who also wrote to the Essex branch of the Magistrates' Association revealing how "startled" and "alarmed" he was.
Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston backed the chief constable's stance and confirmed that a review into issuing cautions to burglars would take place.
He said: "The key issue for me is whether this was an isolated incident or something more systematic."
He said the police were working hard to combat burglary, so the incident was "surprising" and "disappointing".
Monique Carson, the victim of the burglary, said she was "pleased" with the police's response to the Chronicle story on March 7.
The 23-year-old returned home with partner David Cable and their son Douglas on November 25 last year from a trip to Great Yarmouth to find their house on Plym Road, Galleywood, ransacked.
"I am really pleased that we've got a positive response from everyone," said Ms Carson, a part-time worker at Hylands House. "It shows that it is not acceptable that a burglar gets a caution when, in fact, they deserve a severe punishment.
"It is devastating to come home and find all your cupboards open and draws pulled to pieces. It was a real smack in the face to learn the burglar had been given caution. We are not the only victims of burglary and I hope this will not happen again."
A spokesman for Essex Police added: "Victims of burglary deserve to have confidence in the justice system and the police play a key role in this process.
"This is a very serious issue for the force and when the full facts are known then appropriate action will be taken."
