Fire-damaged Birmingham home burglarized

Burglars added insult to injury on Saturday, April 17, when someone broke into a house in the 1000 block of Ann Street in Birmingham that had been damaged by a fire just three days earlier.

Birmingham police said the home was involved in a fire on Wednesday, April 14, leaving heavy damage to the rear of the residence. The homeowner told police she has been living at a hotel while the house is being repaired. While checking on the house on the April 17, she noticed the front door was open and there were signs of a break-in. She then exited the house and called police.

“She stated that she recalls locking the residence when she left on Friday, April 16, around 3 p.m., and when she returned on Saturday, April 17, at 6:45 p.m., she noticed the front door ajar and one of her jackets that had previously been upstairs, near the staircase,” the Birmingham Police Department said. “When seeing the jacket out of place, she exited the residence and contacted the police department. Officers investigated the scene and cleared the residence, noting the doorframe still intact.”

Officers and the homeowner checked the residence, with the homeowner pointing out several items in disarray and missing. Boards securing the residence at the rear of the house where the fire had occurred had been moved. A small opening was discovered that was large enough for a person to enter the house.

The burglary is under investigation.