A tech boss who was the victim of a £500,000 raid on his home has hit out after police dropped the case within weeks.
Bebo founder Paul Birch and his wife Juliana were horrified when they came home after celebrating their daughter’s 17th birthday last month to find their house had been ransacked.
Dramatic CCTV footage shows three thieves – at least one armed with a crowbar – smashing their way into the mansion, in a gated community in Surrey.
They can be seen scavenging through rooms and stuffing duffel bags with luxury items – including Rolex watches, diamond jewellery and Hermes handbags –leaving piles of clothes and ripped boxes in their wake.
Despite the burglars being caught on camera, police shelved the case after little more than a month.
Mrs Birch, 54, alleges that it took Surrey Police more than 12 hours to turn up after the raid on December 11.
Less than two weeks later, the officer in charge paused the investigation while he enjoyed a long Christmas break, telling the devastated family he would be ‘back next year’, they say.
And last week, when they contacted officers to ask for an update, they say they were told the case had been closed ‘because there was not enough evidence’.
Bebo founder Paul Birch and his wife Juliana, pictured, were horrified when they came home after celebrating their daughter’s 17th birthday last month to find their house had been ransacked
Dramatic CCTV footage shows three thieves – at least one armed with a crowbar – smashing their way into the mansion, in a gated community in Surre
Among the goods stolen was a £6,000 pink and silver Oyster Perpetual 36 Rolex watch, pictured
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Mrs Birch, a mother of two, said: ‘When they finally sent a policewoman more than 12 hours after we called, [she] didn’t even bother to review the CCTV footage.
‘Then we were told the officer in charge was going on holiday and would contact us in the new year. He never did. So my daughter called the police three or four days ago and found out the case had been closed.’
Speaking on the investigation, she added: ‘It was very upsetting. The officer in charge kept asking for proof I really did own the items, and from the tone of his voice it was like he didn’t believe me.
‘That is why these awful crooks get away with so many things, because it’s like the police are more interested in protecting the criminals than us, the targets.’
During the burglary, which lasted some 30 minutes, around 200 one-of-a-kind items were stolen, according to Mrs Birch.
She compiled a detailed list of many of the missing items for police.
Among them was a £6,000 pink and silver Oyster Perpetual 36 Rolex watch, seven Chanel handbags, including a £6,000 black, medium-sized bag, and six Hermes Birkin bags each worth between £3,800 and £6,000.
Also taken were seven Dior handbags, including a £8,600 white leather and gold butterfly Lady D-joy bag, three silver Tiffany necklaces and several pairs of Christian Louboutin heels.
Despite the burglars being caught on camera, police shelved the case after little more than a month
During the burglary, which lasted some 30 minutes, around 200 one-of-a-kind items were stolen, according to Mrs Birch
They can be seen scavenging through rooms and stuffing duffel bags with luxury items – including Rolex watches, diamond jewellery and Hermes handbags –leaving piles of clothes and ripped boxes in their wake
The thieves went through boxes and stole £500,000 worth of goods from the home
Mrs Birch, 54, alleges that it took Surrey Police more than 12 hours to turn up after the raid on December 11. Pictiure: Christian Dior Bag White canvas “Lady dior”
A Christian Louboutin Shoes White “Lata 110 nappa mica wedge heels” were stolen, top, as well as Christian Louboutin Bag Beige with crystals exterior, bottom
Thieves also stole from the tycoon’s house a Hermes Emerald Green Birkin bag, pictured
A Rolex Watch Pink and Silver Oyster Perpetual 36 6000, pictured, was also stolen from the home
Family keepsakes such as the couple’s engraved wedding bands and 12 Mexican gold coins they received for their wedding were also stolen
![Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Mrs Birch, a mother of two, pictured, said: ‘When they finally sent a policewoman more than 12 hours after we called, [she] didn’t even bother to review the CCTV footage'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/15/22/94142171-0-image-m-26_1736979956242.jpg)
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Mrs Birch, a mother of two, pictured, said: ‘When they finally sent a policewoman more than 12 hours after we called, [she] didn’t even bother to review the CCTV footage’
A Surrey Police spokesman said the investigation was filed yesterday because there were ‘no further positive lines of inquiry’
Family keepsakes such as the couple’s engraved wedding bands and 12 Mexican gold coins they received for their wedding were also stolen. Mrs Birch added:
‘For weeks I was terrified. I was shaking all the time, crying. I was so scared to the point I started walking around my own house with a knife just in case.’
Her husband Paul, 57, founded early social networking website Bebo in 2005 with his brother Michael.
At the height of its popularity it overtook MySpace as the most used platform in the UK. But following Facebook’s dominance of social media, the site was shut down in 2013.
A Surrey Police spokesman said the investigation was filed yesterday because there were ‘no further positive lines of inquiry’.
They added: ‘Officers attended the scene to take DNA samples but there were no matches.
‘They were unable to run the CCTV images through the national database due to them not being clear.’