Jan Bourke, 63, had sat with her husband in hospital after he admitted due to severe pain before finally being able to grab some sleep in her home at Uranquinty. 

“At half-one in the morning I went home and got a couple hours sleep and I woke because I heard male voices in my house,” she said. “I went down the hallway and I was confronted by two guys. One pushed past me and the other held me up and held a torch in my face.”

Due to the light, Mrs Bourke was unable to discern any features of her attackers apart from the fact they were wearing a hoodie. 

“I chased after them begging for them to give my handbag back,” she said. 

The original break-in happened on Sunday, January 20 and Mrs Bourke said they came back Wednesday night and stole her car. 

“I am glad my husband wasn’t home because they would have hurt him,” she said. “I feel like my freedom has been taken away and I feel unsafe in my home, I haven’t been able to stay in my home.” 

Mrs Bourke said without her wallet she has no identification and it makes her feel like a “nobody”. 

“Without any ID, people do not believe who you are and it makes you a nobody,” she said. 

Mrs Bourke said the police have been extremely helpful, but she fears there’s nothing they can do.

“The judicial system only gives these people a slap on the wrist,” she said. 

Mrs Bourke and her husband have lived in Uranquinty for 30 years and said there is no way they could move. 

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“Hearing this news has made my husband spiral,” she said. “Even my grandkids have been upset and they don’t understand why Nanny can’t drive them.” 

Her daughter, Dani Fraser, said she was horrified at the news.

“My husband spent two nights there,’ she said. “He’s a volunteer firefighter and had been out at The Rock so came home exhausted and didn’t go to mum’s that night. They came back and got her car and so he feels awful.” 

Mrs Bourke said pleaded with anyone who knows about what happened to come forward to police. 

Ms Fraser said for those responsible to come twice and hurt her mum, someone who does a lot of volunteer work, is heartbreaking. 

Riverina Safes and Locks and Neighbourhood Watch donated $300 and an appraisal to help Mrs Bourke feel safer in her home and get back on her feet. 

“The important thing to remember is if you see something, say something,” said Wayne Deaner, community leader of the Wagga Neighbourhood Watch. 

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