A new burglary method using corrosive liquid seems to be spreading among burglars, somewhat Swedens radio was the first to report on.
One of those who have been affected is 30-year-old Elina Tyskling in Stockholm.
– There was chaos in the apartment, in all rooms. They tore everything out to see what they could find. Wardrobes, the kitchen, medicines. My son’s drawings were scattered across the floor and the sofa was torn up, she says.
Stockholm resident Elina Tyskling got a grim surprise last week when she was hit by a new burglary method that seems to have taken hold among criminals. What appears to be corrosive liquid is used to break in.
– My boyfriend described it as a green liquid that had run down the door and onto the floor, says Elina Tyskling.
Total chaos
Elina herself was in Luleå. When the boyfriend Alex goes to look at her apartment in Östermalm, he immediately discovers that some type of green acid seems to have made a hole through the lock. Even the neighbors’ peepholes had been taped over.
And inside the apartment there was total chaos.
– They tore everything out to see what they can find. Wardrobes, the kitchen, medicines. My son’s drawings were scattered across the floor and the sofa was torn up, says Elina.
– I had heirlooms from my grandmother that she received from her husband, a very beautiful piece of jewelry that they took. But they also took some gold earrings and rings and such.
Reported to the police
The incident was reported to the police and the police came to the apartment to do a crime scene investigation and take pictures.
According to Elina, the police described it to her as an unusual crime that they have started to see more of lately and that the trend could possibly come from Southern Europe.
For Swedens radio police say they have seen several cases of the highly unusual burglary method in recent weeks.
“Wish you had an alarm”
One of Elina’s neighbors was also affected by the same burglary method during the same week. But none of the people living in the house have seen or heard anything unusual.
– They wished they had had an alarm. I think they probably wouldn’t have done this back then.
After all, I will install alarms to 100 percent. Then you will probably try to have a little more contact with your neighbors and try to help each other more.
Elina will return to the apartment despite a strong feeling of discomfort. The worst she thinks is that the thieves seem to have been monitoring her before. Elina and her neighbor, who also had a burglary, are the only ones in the house without a burglar alarm and were away during the same period of time.
– You’ve heard that you shouldn’t post on social media that you’re gone. I always think about that anyway. So somehow they have a clue. That is what is unpleasant, says Elina Tyskling.