A Bristol family are ‘terrified’ after burglars locked them in their home

A family said they were left “terrified” when thieves locked their front door while breaking into their van to steal an e-bike.

The ordeal happened shortly before midnight on Monday as Helen Adams and her young child slept in their home in Bristol.

Her husband was awake at the time and discovered that the family had been trapped inside the property.

The family eventually climbed down the windows and waited outside for the police to arrive.

“We feel terrified. Bristol doesn’t feel like a very safe city anymore,” Ms Adams said.

Despite the fact that the ground floor of their house is equipped with security alarms, none of them were triggered during the incident.

Mr. Adams only realized what was happening when he heard noises coming from the driveway and opened the curtains.

The back windshield of their van had been smashed and an electric bicycle that had been stored inside had been stolen.

Two others were damaged, Ms. Adams said.

When Mr. Adams couldn’t figure out why the front door wouldn’t open, he woke his wife.

“I couldn’t find out what happened or why I couldn’t get out the door,” Ms Adams said.

“(The thieves) made it, obviously, so if you heard them, you couldn’t get out.

“It would have been a very different scenario if we had woken up with some form of emergency in the middle of the night and couldn’t get out.

“There are so many dangers,” she added.

Although the van was repaired, the couple say it was abandoned given their living situation.

Two years ago, in the same house, thieves broke in and stole two electric bicycles.

“It’s become something of a UK crime – but that’s as far as they’ll go now,” Ms Adams said.

“If they’re catching people in houses, that’s a proper operation.”

She added; “I was very relieved that my husband was home, because it took a long time before I managed to open the door again.

“I feel horrified to think if I had been alone in the house.”

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said the incident was being investigated.

“The offenders smashed a window and stole an electric dual suspension mountain bike, described as being wrapped in purple tape with a bit of green,” they said.

“CCTV inquiries have been carried out in the local area and have been raised with the neighborhood policing team.”

Anyone who has seen an e-bike matching the description or has information that could help the investigation has been asked to contact the force.