Byline: STEPHANIE CONDRON
TWO terrified women who confronted a burglar had to wait 24 hours for police to respond to their 999 call.
Sarah Pickersgill, 20, and Jemma Downes, 22, were told officers would be with them within minutes after they disturbed an intruder stealing their handbags.
But despite fears that the man was still outside, police failed to turn up until the following evening.
Miss Pickersgill, a beauty therapist, and Miss Downes, a law student, had just walked in to Miss Pickersgill's parents' detached home in Cudworth, Barnsley.
led automotive bulbs They had dumped their bags and walked into the kitchen when the intruder entered the hallway.
'I didn't lock the door which was silly,' said Miss Pickersgill.
'We had only been there a minute or two when I saw a man walk in and pick up our handbags.
'I looked at him high power led bulbs and I screamed but he didn't seem bothered or in a hurry to get away. I ran to confront him without thinking.' The raider fled outside with their handbags but then began battling to get back in, trying the door handle as Miss Pickersgill tried desperately to set the latch.
'He was pushing on the door trying to open it. I shouted to my friend to phone 999,' she said.
'I was scared he could come back in. He could have gone around the house.'
An officer was sent out to help them after their call at around 8:50pm on September 23, a Friday, but South Yorkshire Police said he was immediately diverted to deal with another emergency.
They were unable to give details of this incident but at around 12.30am, three hours later, he was called to investigate a shooting outside a Barnsley pub. Acting chief inspector Steve Batty, of Barnsley police, said: 'We contacted the complainants on Saturday lunchtime to explain the delay and assure them that an officer would be round to see them.
'A member of our burglary squad then visited the complainants as promised and a full investigation is now under way.
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'We are sorry for any upset caused by the delay.' Three officers eventually came to the house on Saturday evening.
Last night, Miss Pickersgill's father, Brian, said: 'This burglar could have had a knife or anything and I could have arrived home to find the two of them dead.' Mr Pickersgill, a 47-year-old businessman added: 'When police receive a 999 call from women who are in danger I thought they were supposed to give it priority.
'That hasn't happened and it's disgusting.' Miss Pickersgill said: 'I'm frightened every time I'm on my own now. It's made me very nervous.'
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