A MOTHER-OF-FOUR is distraught after thieves stole presents and sentimental heirlooms from her family home just before Christmas.

Burglars entered the property, on Warehouse Road, Stebbing, through the back door sometime between December 19 and January 4, whilst the owners were on holiday.

When the victims returned they discovered an array of jewellery, cash, items of china and children’s Christmas presents had been taken.

The owner of the property, who lives at the house with her husband and four children, said that the thieves took stuff that can never be replaced.

She said: “We have lost stuff that the kids were going to inherit.

“There are so many memories from my gran and grandad that have gone.

“The presents ranged from little Frozen toys for my youngest daughter to an iPad and an Xbox One.

“I had a black handbag stolen, which was from Marks and Spencer.

“It had three bags of hair that were my relatives who have passed away.

“They were wrapped in tissues and they had dates on them.”

The callous thieves also made off with her two young sons shared money box, which they used to collect their pocket money.

The owner of the property, who The Times have agreed not to name, said: “There was a gold elephant which was bought for my daughter when she was two, she is now 14.

“It has one of its ears missing and it had a little coat over it covered in diamonds.

“It is a trust thing, my kids are concerned about how anyone could do this.

“I have not really slept since I have been home, it is devastating for the family because we live in a little village where we all know each other and we keep an eye out for each other.

“I know that my chances of getting my stuff back is very slim, but I urge that anybody with information or someone who is offered the items to come forward to the police.

“Things like technology and gadgets we can replace but other items I am never going to get back - things like that are worth nothing but mean so much to me.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dc Gemma White on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.