Jewelry

A Henniker woman is urging her neighbors to be vigilant after her home was broken into Wednesday.

The homeowner, Cindy Bourgeault, is shaken after the incident, saying she's never felt afraid to live in her house until now.

A lot of valuable jewelry was taken, but specific pieces of sentimental value to her family can never be replaced.

"I walked in the house, and I saw something on the floor in front of my kitchen sink which is usually on the windowsill,” Bourgeault said. "And I immediately thought someone broke in."

Bourgeault was frightened knowing someone had been inside her house, or could possibly still be there.

Bourgeault said her windows and doors had been locked, but she was able to tell that the lock on her window had been broken, and a sliding glass door nearby had been unlocked from the inside.

In her bedroom, her fears were confirmed.

"They took most of the jewelry,” she said. “Then I saw my niece Brittany’s rings were missing also."

Bourgeault’s 25-year-old niece, Brittany, died this past June of a brain tumor – the person Cindy calls the spirit of their family.

"A silver pinkie ring that says ‘Brittany’ on it,” Bourgeault said through tears. “And there's another mood ring that has butterflies on it. Those are the pieces that I want back."

The rings are of no significant monetary value, but hold priceless memories.

In the midst of an unthinkable violation, Bourgeault had advice for others.

"Everybody needs to start looking out for each other,” she said. “Talk to as many people as you can and pay attention to what's going on with your neighbors."

Bourgeault is urging her neighbors and anyone in town who sees anything out of the ordinary, or may have any information on her lost items, to call Henniker police at 603-428-3213.