A family has been left ‘petrified’ after their home was burgled when a burglar cut a hole in their front door while they were out on the school run.
The opportunist burglar made off with more than £7,000 worth of possessions, while the mum was taking her child to school on Thursday morning.
Aaron Barnes, who lives in Downend, Bristol, said while his partner was out on a school run a silver van pulled up outside their home.
The father-of-one said neighbours heard power tools but assumed it was work being carried out on a nearby home.
But when his partner returned home 20 minutes later, she was shocked to find a large hole carved out of their front door, Bristol Live reports.
"They took stuff that I am never going to get back," he said. "My son’s first tooth, his hospital wrist band from when he was born and some personalised jewellery I had made from his footprint.
“It's just disgusting what they’ve done."
Having lived in the area for four years the family said they had always felt safe - but since the ordeal Mr Barnes's partner is afraid to leave the home. “
She is petrified," he added. "She doesn’t want to do a school run and she wants family members around her all the time."
The 37-year-old said he believed the culprits knew the family as only one room was ransacked and around £7,000 worth of belongings were stolen including jewellery, cash and the sentimental items kept inside a box.
“They knew where they were going and I’m worried about my family, " he added. Mr Barns took to social media where he shared the shocking news on his Facebook page asking for help and even offering cash as a reward.
“I am willing to pay £500 to anyone who has the right information that can help myself and the police,” he added.
A spokesperson from Avon and Somerset Police said: "We were called to a property in Northcote Road, Downend, South Gloucestershire , at 9am today (Thursday, May 12) by a woman who had arrived home to find her house had been broken into.
"Officers secured and searched the property. Upon further investigation, it was discovered the offender had taken various pieces of jewellery and a large quantity of cash.
"If you saw anything out of the ordinary, or if you have any CCTV or doorbell footage which may assist the investigation, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5222110000."
