Banker who lost '£120,000' in burglary at his home says police told him they couldn't investigate as officer was 'on a day off' (9 Pics)

A banker who claims to have lost £120,000 of luxury goods in a burglary at his home says police delayed the investigation so an officer could have a day off.
Sherif Atef, 45, was first alerted to a problem while on holiday in Egypt when CCTV sent automatically to his phone showed man appearing to act suspiciously outside his west London home.
Later that same night, burglars struck at his home and allegedly took his most valuable items including £60,000 worth of Rolexes, his £4,000 cigar collection and scores of designer goods.
But when Mr Atef called the police to discuss the case he said he was shocked to be told that the investigation would have to wait until a 'very busy officer' returned from a day off. 
‘It was ridiculous,’ he told Mail Online. 'I was really disappointed with the attitude of the Metropolitan police. They are making a mockery of me.
‘They actually told me on the phone that there was no rush. I told them, there might be no rush for you, but there is a rush for me. I need to stop these people selling my stuff.'
Sherif Atef, a banker who claims to have lost £120,000 of luxury goods in a burglary at his home, says police delayed the investigation so an officer could have a day off
The 45-year-old was first alerted to a problem while on holiday in Egypt when CCTV sent automatically to his phone showed man appearing to act suspiciously outside his west London home (above). There is no suggestion this man was directly linked to the later burglary
Later that same night, burglars struck at his home and allegedly took his most valuable items including £60,000 worth of Rolexes, his £4,000 cigar collection and scores of designer goods 


Items taken allegedly included 15 Chanel, Prada, Dior and YSL handbags worth £28,000, £25,000 of jewellery and £8,000 of gold bullion.
Also believed to have been taken were three pairs of Gucci and Prada shoes worth £1,500, two magnums of £80 Moët & Chandon champagne, two Mont Blanc pens, bottles of Chanel and Prada perfume and gold coins worth £2,000.
Mr Atef was enjoying a luxury holiday in Egypt last week with his wife and daughter when the robbers struck last Sunday night.
At 11pm that night, his phone automatically sent him CCTV footage of an apparently suspicious character appearing to try the handle of his front door. There is no suggestion this man was directly linked to the later burglary.
The man, who was wearing a hoodie, could be seen apparently rattling the frame before walking off down the road. 
Mr Atef telephoned his neighbour and asked him to investigate, but all seemed quiet.
Later that night, however, the rear window of the four-bedroom property was smashed and the robbery took place.

Items taken allegedly included 15 Chanel, Prada, Dior and YSL handbags worth £28,000, £25,000 of jewellery and £8,000 of gold bullion. Pictured: Mt Atef's £4,000 cigar collection before (above) and afterwards (below)
Also believed to have been taken were three pairs of Gucci and Prada shoes worth £1,500, two magnums of £80 Moët & Chandon champagne, two Mont Blanc pens, bottles of Chanel and Prada perfume and gold coins worth £2,000


‘I immediately called the police and they turned up at the house an hour later,’ he said. ‘A forensic team came four hours later and they found no fingerprints. 
‘I offered them the CCTV footage and they told me to send it over whenever I was back.
‘There was no sense of urgency at all. So I bought an emergency flight back to London with my family.’
He claims he flew back to find his home ransacked and all his valuables gone, including his beloved selection of 100 premium cigars.
While clearing up the mess he found a jacket that did not belong to him which he thought might help the investigation. 
But when he asked police to come and investigate and again offered up the CCTV, they said the inquiry would be delayed until later in the week because an officer needed a day off.
‘I wanted them to come and test the jacket for DNA and take the CCTV image. I wanted them to show some motivation to catch the culprit.
‘Instead, they told me that the officer was very busy and she would be back in touch after her day off. 
‘I said, so send one of her colleagues. Is there only one officer in the Met? They told me that nobody else was available. 
‘The burglars are celebrating by smoking my expensive cigars while the police take the day off.’ 
He added: ‘I pay my tax and National Insurance and for once I need help from the police, but they abandoned me exactly when I needed support.’ 
Mr Atef said he and his family had been traumatised by the burglary and had been living in fear ever since.
‘How can I guarantee that they won’t come back and get whatever’s left?’ he said. 
‘Every five minutes I discover that something else is missing. They went through every single room, even my daughter’s bedroom.
‘I had 100 cigars in three humidors, two small ones and a big one. The thieves emptied the contents of the big humidor into the small ones and took them away. It is heartbreaking.’
Mr Atef said his insurance policy only covers losses of up to £35,000, meaning that the burglary has left him about £85,000 out of pocket.
‘I never imagined that I would lose everything at once, so I didn’t take out the full cover,’ he said.
Banker who lost '£120,000' in burglary at his home says police told him they couldn't investigate as officer was 'on a day off' (9 Pics) Banker who lost '£120,000' in burglary at his home says police told him they couldn't investigate as officer was 'on a day off' (9 Pics) Reviewed by CUZZ BLUE on November 01, 2018 Rating: 5

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