Waiting for justice: Sheryn Atkins

Sheryn Atkins: Lives in Massey with husband and their two sons.

Crime: House burgled at night through a ranch slider left open for their dog. DVDs, bikes, speakers and amplifiers among the items taken.

Facts: Family was at home asleep at the time of the burglary.

Complaint lodged: The morning of Friday March 3.

Police response: Call from Waitakere burglary squad at 9.43pm on Sunday. Forensics sent out on Monday.

Follow-up: Police send standard form letter advising the victims of the complaint process. Sheryn advised police her son received a text message from unknown person telling him that they had his bike. The file records: "Enquiries indicate that the number was traced to a prepaid phone and the company has the subscriber's details. However more urgent matters have taken priority in the short term."

What they want: A visit from police within 12 hours of the complaint. Follow-up calls advising what is being done on the file. More community involvement in crime prevention.

"We haven't called them. We figured that the police are so busy that a small burglary really wasn't a priority. They certainly haven't called us. In an ideal world, I would have expected someone to turn up that day. The forensics guy said if he'd come a day later it would have been too late to get any fingerprints."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY