THIEVES targeted a woman’s home while she was away and stole irreplaceable jewellery - including her engagement ring and mother’s wedding ring.

Christine Towse, who lives in York Road, Rayleigh, received the dreaded phone call while she was on holiday in Spain.

She returned home from her vacation with her husband and friends to find thieves had ransacked her house, taking with them sentimental valuables, including her engagement ring, her mother’s wedding ring, watches, a pendant with her grandson’s hand print on, as well as her iPad.

The 61-year-old said: “My brother popped over to see me, not realising we had gone away and found the front window open.

“Thinking it was weird there was no answer and the window was left like that, he went around to my neighbours, who looked into my garden to see the back window also open.

“They rang me and I told them I was in Spain, and I think that’s when the penny dropped what had happened. I was in such a state.

“My daughter had to climb through the window to get in, which they’d forced entry to open.

“They also moved the sofa to block the front door, completely raided my jewellery box and pulled out my belongings, taking all of mine and my husband’s rings, chains, necklaces and watches, so much that meant everything to us, and my iPad.

“Everything that was taken is absolutely irreplaceable and you can’t put a price on it, I’m heartbroken that anyone would do this.”

She told how she now feels so vulnerable and is finding it hard to leave the house. She added: “I just worry what I will come home to.

“It’s horrible to think that someone has been in your house and round your belongings that you don’t know, it’s an invasion of privacy. You never think it’s going to happen to you until it does.”

Christine is appealing for information, hoping that anyone who may be offered the jewellery will return it.

She said: “I just want to make everyone aware that this is going on so they can remain vigilant, and ask anyone who may have seen our jewellery to get in touch as it really does mean a lot to us.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call Essex Police on 101 quoting the crime reference number 42/184169/19.