And someone else is no doubt pleased by getting a nice treat at her expense.

A burglar broke into her home and stole her laptop, which contained important university work and irreplaceable photographs.

Julie, 48, returned to her ground floor flat in Horfield to find her pounds500 Toshiba laptop and pounds300 missing.

Police believe the same intruder forced their way into the flat above Julie's at the Doone Road property and stole a mountain bike.

The theft set Julie back badly in her studies as an archeological sciences student.

She faces a two-week wait for a new laptop to be delivered by her insurance company.

The laptop also contained photographs of Julie's black Labrador, Pride, who died in September.

"People don't realise the trauma they cause people. I had an awful lot of work on that computer," said Julie, who moved from Devon to study in Bristol three years ago.

"I've now got to wait two weeks for a replacement laptop and I have to write three essays and presentations in that time.

"It was a huge lifestyle change for me to become a mature student. I gave up my home, my friends and my family. Now I don't feel safe in my own home.

"I've had to cancel credit and debit cards because all my details were on the laptop as well."

Julie came home to find her locked back door kicked through.

"I couldn't believe it when I got home. Deep down I know I won't get the laptop back," she said.

"When police came around they said it was their busiest night of the year. Halloween seems to induce a sense of lawlessness, which is quite frightening really."

Avon and Somerset police said there were 33 burglaries in Bristol on October 31 - compared to an average of 23. Anyone with information can call them on 0845 4567000.

(c) 2008 Evening Post (Bristol UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

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