A COUPLE whose shop was burgled say police "ignored" them for six days before coming to take a statement.
Samantha Doe and Scott Wilson, who run The Newsagents in Meon Close, Springfield, arrived to find their shop door smashed, the alarm ringing and cash missing at 5.30am on November 15.
When they called 999, the operator told them the police did not have the resources to send someone before 8am, but warned them not to go inside because they might disturb vital evidence.
"No one turned up," said 26-year-old Samantha of Great Baddow.
"Our newspaper delivery came so we were selling them from the boot of our car, luckily we could still send the paper boys out."
A forensic investigator arrived at 8.45am, but Samantha said even he was "shocked" no police had arrived.
The couple managed to open up again at 10am, but there was still no sign of an officer to take a statement, so they decided to go to Chelmsford Police Station to save the investigating officer a journey.
But when they got there they were told no one could help because their details had already been passed on to be investigated.
"I understand that there have been cuts to the police service, and things are hard, but I do not think that this is an incident that should be ignored," Samantha said.
"We had every intention of going to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner election, but when no one bothered to ask exactly what had happened to us we did not see the point in the end.
"We had a hell of a day and were trying to get our heads around everything, and we got no support.
"You want to feel like someone is taking you seriously, and I know there have been cuts, but you do not realise how bad the situation is until you are a victim.
"My stomach sank at the thought that more break-ins could occur in Springfield and that nothing was being done about it.
"We are in complete despair, you just want to feel safe and I don't."
Samantha said the police phoned the couple the next day to arrange a meeting for November 18 at 10am, but then did not turn up.
Since then, the couple claim the police have not got in touch.
Scott, 29, said: "We had not written any formal statement, so technically we have had no formal contact.
"We probably would have got more sympathy from the burglar."
As the Chronicle went to press a police spokesman said officers would be visiting the couple yesterday (Wednesday).
"Officers will be visiting in order to explain to them why a statement has not yet been taken from them," the spokesman said.
"As yet there appears to be no suspect descriptions or CCTV available, which is why there has been no immediate requirement for a victim statement to be obtained."