Burglars raid home of war heroine (From Haringey Independent)

Burglars raid home of war heroine

4:58pm Saturday 13th March 2010 in

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Friends of a French Resistance heroine have slammed "despicable" burglars who raided her home days after her death.

Andree Peel survived a Nazi firing squad and helped a string of British and American pilots flee occupied Europe.

Known as Agent Rose, she saved over 100 lives and passed away at the age of 105 at her care home on March 5.

Police were unable to confirm the burglary at her house in Long Ashton, near Bristol, but her friend Martin Fisher said he reported the incident to the force on Thursday evening.

Mr Fisher said it happened sometime between Wednesday midday and late afternoon on Thursday. Police attended and made the house secure before returning on Friday to investigate further, he said.

"The police said at the time they thought it was despicable that anybody could even consider such a thing," he added.

"Because it was reported locally and nationally a lot of people realised the house was empty."

Gerald Gregory, 81, a neighbour and friend of Mrs Peel, said: "The thing is despite the fact she was a war hero, stealing from the dead is low life.

"It made me mad when I found out. The lock was shattered by the force. I had the police here the day after it happened trying to get details."

He said copies of her autobiography, Miracles do Happen, were amongst the stolen items. They were later offered for sale at nearby public houses, he added.