A young boy with severe autism has been left utterly heartbroken after his beloved games consoles were stolen during a burglary.
Diego Thompson, 9, was on a family holiday during the Easter break when thieves broke into their home in Cardiff.
He returned back from the trip to Chessington to find his bedroom had been ransacked - with his PS4, Nintendo Switch and X-Box One all taken.
His mum Rebecca said video games are like a lifeline to her son, who struggles to communicate because of his autism.
"He just can't understand what has happened," she said
"They even took pennies which he had been saving."
Rebecca went away with her son and partner, to Chessington for a weekend away.
But they arrived back at their home in Pentrebane on April 25 to find the chain on their front door wasn't locked.
"I ran straight upstairs and noticed everything was trashed," she said,
"The draws were broken, things were out of place and everything was damaged.
"I was shocked, I was shaking, I just didn't know what to do."
One woman's daily struggle to raise three children with severe autism
Rebecca cares for her son full-time and she said that him having a routine is "essential"
"Diego comes home from school and will play on his consoles and it keeps him happy and calm," she added.
"But his routine is completely messed up.
"One of the consoles we have replaced, goes to school with him every day as he's scared of someone taking it again. He shouldn't have to live like this."
Also taken during the raid was an iPad and jewelery were also stolen.
Rebecca is also urging anyone who may have come across the items being sold, to come forward.
"I'm hoping someone will come forward and hand in the items, don't do it for me, do it for a severely autistic boy who is absolutely devastated.
A spokesperon for South Wales Police, said: "South Wales Police is continuing to investigate a burglary at Lavender Grove, Pentrebane, reported on April 25.
"Stolen were a number of items including, which has caused the family particular upset, an X-Box One and PlayStation 4.
"House-to-house enquiries have been carried out, CCTV has been checked and the property has been forensically examined to help identify those responsible. There have been no arrests.
"Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the stolen items or hears of them being offered for sale, is asked to please contact South Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting occurrence number *148401."
