In a bizarre case from Wales, a burglar named Damian Wojnilowicz broke into a woman’s home, completed various chores, and left an eerie note before departing. The incident occurred on July 16 in Monmouthshire, leaving the victim feeling unsafe in her own residence.
Upon returning home, the woman discovered that her belongings had been moved around. To her shock, she found that Wojnilowicz had hung out her washed clothes, organized her groceries in the refrigerator, and emptied the recycling bin. Prosecutor Alice Sykes detailed the unusual nature of the burglary during the sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.
Wojnilowicz had also cooked himself a meal using items from the woman’s cupboard, and, in a strange twist, he left behind a note that read: “Don’t worry, be happy, eat up and scratch.”
The list of chores performed by the burglar was extensive. He refilled bird feeders in the garden, rearranged plant pots, and even took a pair of shoes out of its packaging, disposing of the paper in the recycling bin. He also cleaned the bathroom floor and replaced toothbrush heads, demonstrating an unusual sense of ‘hospitality.’
In addition to all this, he helped himself to a bottle of wine, which he left out alongside a glass and bottle opener, making himself quite at home.
Upon noticing the disturbance, the woman sought clarification from her neighbour, who mentioned seeing someone hanging clothes outside. The invasion left her deeply shaken. “Two weeks after the crime until he was caught, I was living in a state of heightened anxiety I had never experienced before,” she stated. “I was too scared to stay in my own home and stayed with a friend. When I returned home, I was accompanied by my daughter as I was too scared to go alone.”
Wojnilowicz was not finished with his criminal activities. On July 29, he broke into another house. This time, the homeowner received a CCTV alert that showed Wojnilowicz walking on his driveway. He used the summerhouse shower to wash his clothes, took a bath, and ate food before the homeowner’s son-in-law found him drunk and asked him to leave.
Despite the request, Wojnilowicz was arrested later, as his DNA matched the fingerprints discovered in the woman’s home during the initial burglary.
Wojnilowicz has since pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for his strange and unsettling actions. The case highlights the unusual circumstances surrounding what should be a straightforward crime, leaving a lasting impact on the victim’s sense of security.
