Burglars saved life of goldfish after smashing its bowl

Burglars stole a laptop computer containing thousands of precious photographs, but saved the life of the family goldfish during the break-in. Monica and Lance McGill were devastated when the laptop was snatched from their home in Wollaton, Nottingham, with pictures of their children growing up saved on it.



The thieves forced their way into the house while the family were out, smashing a fishbowl in the process. But they made sure goldfish Freddie was safe by placing him in the kitchen sink, which they filled with water. The family are now appealing for the burglars to return their photos and have offered a £300 reward. Mrs McGill said: "They stole a few other things but I don't care about that, I just want the pictures back.

"I've been taking them ever since my son was born, so we have six years' worth of pictures. There are thousands. I'm not even bothered about the laptop. They can burn the pictures onto a disk for all I care - I just want them back." Mrs McGill, who is mother to Quinn, 10, West, eight, and six-year-old Parc, said she was surprised when she discovered Freddie had been saved. But she added: "The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.



"They're just there to take whatever they can to make some money from. They weren't there to hurt a child or kill an animal or anything like that. They probably know we have insurance for the rest of the stuff, but not the pet and that's why they saved him."" The burglary happened some time between 11am and 9pm on November 28. A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: "We are investigating this burglary and enquiries are ongoing. The offenders gained entry through a downstairs window and stole a laptop and some cash."