His mother's china cabinet was face down. The glass front smashed to smithereens, with his mother's best china smashed to bits around the dining room floor.

The old mahogany bookcase was on its side broken, shelves broken and books lying around the room with their pages ripped out and scattered everywhere.
Mr Finleyson walked around the room shaking his head in disbelief. "Depraved animals" he kept muttering.
He was still clutching Martha, who was unusually quiet and seemed in a sombre mood. She was obviously sensing there was something wrong, by Mr Finleyson's reactions as he went from room to room.

He decided to leave the lounge for last, as it seemed the worst hit. The brief time he had stood there looking around was too much for him to take in as it was the largest room in the house.
He was about to head to the kitchen when the two policemen came down the stairs and said to him, " There's no one up there but it's as bad as it is down here! Do you have home insurance because you're going to need it! Do yiu have any idea what they could have been looking for? Let us know if there's anything missing".

Mr Finleyson replied, " I have house insurance which I have never had to use. I don't really have anything of value around the house, so I can't imagine what they were looking for".

PC Crighton replied, " How do you think they got in"?

Mr Finleyson replied, "I never lock my doors as I have never needed to. Because it was so warm this morning I left the windows open to cool down the rooms as there was a breeze blowing. So they could have walked through the front or back doors or got in through the open windows. Take your pick! I know what you must think of me. That I was an irresponsible fool to have left the house unsecured. I won't be doing that again!

PC Crighton, "We will bring you a copy of our report, as you'll need it for your insurance company. Here is your crime reference number in the meantime. My name and number are on it if you have any questions.
I will notify the fingerprint officer who will be here shortly to go over the house for any fingerprints thst aren't yours, to eliminate you. Don't touch or move anything until he's finished. This is officially a crime scene"!
Mr Finleyson, "Can I look around the house at the damage"?

PC Crighton, "If you want but it will be distressing for you. Is there anyone you can call for some moral support? You'll need help to clean up the mess".

Mr Finleyson, "I can call the young lad who helps me around the farm and his father who lives down the road at the next farm".

PC Crighton, "That's good that you have someone to help you. Do you want me to call them and explain what's happened here and ask them to come right away"?

Mr Finleyson, "If you want to. I would really appreciate that officer".

PC Crighton, "No bother. Do you have their number"?

Mr Finleyson gave them Tom's phone number. PC Crighton went outside to the police 4x4 to make the call.