Restorative Conversation Following Theft

A restorative conversation took place with a victim following the theft of her pushchair, which was locked with a chain in the hallway of flats. The offender was given a 12 month community order. Restorative Justice Hampshire received the victim’s details via the Witness Care Unit. We contacted the victim, who was interested in receiving more information about Restorative Justice, leading to a restorative conversation taking place at the victim’s home.  

The victim explained that her double pushchair for her twins was chained to railings in the hallway.  The offender was captured on the Ring doorbell of the ground floor flat cutting the chain and stealing the pushchair. The victim had cried when she realised the pushchair had been stolen.  With twins, the pushchair was her freedom and without it she felt trapped at home. She feels the incident has negatively impact her trust in people, as she had previously thought she could trust people enough to be able to leave the pushchair in the entrance to the building.  She wonders if the theft of the pushchair was planned and she was targeted, which she describes as not being a nice feeling, especially when in your own home.

The victim was interested in an indirect Restorative Justice process as she had questions for the offender and wanted to share the impact the crime has had on her.  However, based on local intelligence about him and his offending behaviour, she did not really expect him to engage.  

The offender did not engage in the process and the victim accepted that. She was thankful for the practitioner's effort.