BURGLARS broke into a family home while the family where sleeping and stole a car and a handbag.

When Tony and Kelly Winter, of Princess Gardens, Rochford, got up on June 10, they were shocked to find their front door open.

Tony, 30, searched the house and found no-one inside - but all the kitchen cupboards were open and their car, a silver Kia Sportage, had been taken.

Mr Winter said: “We immediately called the police and reported the break in.

“It was clear they had forced their way in despite the three locks and a chain on the door.

“Cameras from the neighbours showed two males outside my house and them leaving with items such as my wife’s handbag.

“The police took all the details and sent a forensic officer to the house who collected a number of fingerprints from the kitchen.

“An officer arrived and took a statement and advised me my car had been seen on camera on the A12 at about at 2.30am and was heading to London before being seen later returning to Essex.

“Someone in the community found my wife’s handbag minus the purse, and items in the bag had prints taken off them by the police.”

Mr Winter said the police were very responsive and supportive and that he has some very clear footage of the incident, with two guys shown being quite distinctive.

He said: “I feel very angry that hard working people have had their items taken and disgusted these people had the nerve to come into my property by force while my young vulnerable family slept upstairs.

“As a community NHS nurse this has impacted my work as getting out to see clients is hard but I’m managing with my team’s support.

“It has caused my family a great deal of anxiety and distress and it had been understandably hard to sleep at night.”

Essex Police has confirmed it is investigating the incident and is appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with any information should call the force on 101 quoting the crime reference number 42/81563/18.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or visit crimestoppers-uk.org