Victims of burglary often feel violated

The police quickly found forensic evidence in the flat identifying a suspect but decided to wait before making an arrest.

But while they were waiting, the suspect, a 14-year-old boy, returned to the flat and tried to break in again.

This time he was unsuccessful and resorted to burgling a neighbour's home instead.

'Take axe to bed'

Mary feels she has changed a lot since the incident, and has become increasingly paranoid.

It's made me more suspicious - I don't want to be like that Mary Jones

"I never used to be nervous - now I'm completely different - I've got bars on my windows, extra locks on the door and I've even started taking an axe to bed to defend myself if someone breaks in."

Now, she tries not to leave her flat unattended, getting friends to wait in when she goes out.

When somebody knocks at the door she gets anxious, and still feels as though her home has been violated - that someone has invaded her space.

It has got so bad she has even asked her parents to come and stay for the first time.

'Nervous of teenagers'

Mary is happy with the way the police responded to the burglary - she just wishes they could have arrested the suspect quicker and prevented the second break-in attempt.

She is also keen to try to reclaim her lost property, but thinks there is little chance of it being recovered.

The police did offer her help with improving the security in her home, even offering a �100 grant under a scheme called B-Safe.

The impending court case may provide some closure as Mary explains.

"I just want to see his face - maybe then I'll relax again.