A TERRIFIED woman woke to find a masked man raiding her home.

Detectives are appealing for information after a couple found a man searching their home while they slept.

The intruder broke in the home, in Fenwick Way, Canvey, at about 2am on Monday morning wearing a black balaclava and black clothing.

The victim, while appealing for information on social media, stated: “We had an intruder force his way into our house at 2am.

“My wife woke up and disturbed him - a big man in a balaclava and all in black - very scary.”

The victims said the incident had left them shaken up.

Essex Police are investigating and appealing for anyone with information or CCTV footage of the area to come forward.

A police spokesman said: “The suspect fled the scene empty-handed in a silver car towards Jarvis Road and the victims were not hurt during the incident.”

The victim said he was informed by officers the suspect was most likely attempting to find car keys in what is known as a millennium burglary.

The offence was given this name because it was around the year 2000 when stolen cars became impossible to sell on without a set of keys.

The crime involves crooks breaking into homes just to steal the car keys.

The cars are often stolen to order.

The victim added: “The police advise that he was most likely seeking to find car keys to take the car from the drive.

“Their advice is to double-lock the front door by lifting the handle, lock with the key and leave it close by but out of reach of the door.

“They apparently check all UPVC doors and can easily tell those which are not double-locked and then gain entry in seconds.

“Please be vigilant and double-lock your doors.”

Detectives are keen to catch the culprit before he strikes again.

Anyone with information, CCTV or dash cam footage is asked to call Basildon CID on 101 quoting crime reference 42/82838/18.

Alternatively you can contact independent crimefighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

You can also share information online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online