I hope this may make any burglar, thief, vandal, pickpocket or low-life bully who reads it think twice before committing a crime.

About three months ago my car was broken into. All the luggage I had taken on holiday with me that I had not had a chance to take out of the car was stolen. The majority of my clothes and belongings were in them, most of which I cannot afford to replace. The thieves ripped my car's soft-top roof open to get to them.

On the recent Bank Holiday I went away for a few days. When I returned l noticed someone had crawled through the still-ripped roof of my car - the insurance company had yet to send repair authorisation - and gone through all manner of useless items in a search for something of value.

Not finding anything, they then tried to force the steering wheel, badly damaging it in the process.Were they having a laugh? Were they trying to steal it? I have no idea. But the one thing I do know is people like this are gradually destroying lives.

I have had no end of trouble with my insurance company and don't even know if they will pay up. There is now probably £1,000 worth of damage to my car, which I cannot afford to have repaired. All I have is a dented wreck.

It is heartbreaking to find someone has done something like this to you. Please don't do it.

-Name and address supplied