THIEVES stole hundreds of pounds worth of jewellery after ransacking a woman’s home.

Three burglaries took place in Thundersley in a matter of hours on Wednesday.

Crooks broke into a house on Cedar Park Close, stealing jewellery belonging to the owner’s late mother.

The victim, who does not want to be named, had returned home from dinner with a friend when she realised her home had been burgled.

Gold brooches belonging to her late mother were stolen, as well as a Dolce and Gabbana watch and gold and silver jewellery worth hundreds of pounds.

She said: “They took my jewellery box and went through my drawers and baskets and threw everything over the floor and bed.

“Some of my mum’s jewellery was in there.”

The brooches are both gold, one is a hedgehog and has a broken spine, the other is a figure of eight with a pearl in the centre.

Police think the burglars struck between 7am and 9.30pm.

The victim, 50, a social worker, said: “I went out yesterday morning as normal to get the bus to work and went for dinner with a friend. She dropped me back about 9.30pm. As I put the key in the door, I saw the light on and I knew I had not left it on.

“They had taken apart the back of my mantelpiece clock which was passed down to me. They must have been looking for cash.

“I felt sick. The stuff they took, you can’t put a price on it.”

The same criminals are also believed to have burgled another house in Cedar Park Close. It is unknown howmuch they stole.

Police are investigating a third burglary at a house in Thundersley Park Road, on the same night.

Two thieves broke into the house at 8pm by smashing a window.

The homeowners heard the noise and disturbed the pair, who ran off.

Police say they are looking for two white men, both in their twenties and around 6ft tall.

Both were wearing long bright shorts and one had brown hair and carried a black sports bag.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.