Safe as houses?

At the end of 2004 two crimes made front-page headlines. The first was the brutal murder of bond dealer, John Monckton, and the stabbing of his wife by vicious intruders. That same week, the second story was the 'celebrity' Osbourne family being targeted by thieves who escaped with several million pounds worth of Sharon's jewellery from their Buckinghamshire mansion - but only after Ozzy had tangled with the burglars.

Aggravated burglary is hardly a new crime but violent attacks upon wealthy