A father-of-two had up to £10,000 of Indian gold jewellery stolen from his home following a series of raids in West Bridgford by burglars in the lead up to Diwali.
Nottinghamshire Police is carrying out extra patrols over the weekend in West Bridgford after 28 'Asian gold' jewellery burglaries were recorded in the area over the last two weeks.
The festival of lights arrives in Nottingham on Sunday, October 27, and is a time when the Indian community brings out sentimental jewellery to wear as part of the festivities.
It is also a time when '22 to 24 carat gold' is given as gifts to friends and relatives.
Lecturer Jiten Nandha, who lives in West Bridgford with his wife and two children, aged four and six, described the moment his house was targeted by thieves on Saturday night.
He said: "We went out to the fireworks and found that the back door had been smashed in. They popped the glass with a crowbar.
"They had taken gold jewellery from us - watches, chains, necklaces and earrings. It is Indian gold, which is 22 to 24 carat.
"We had received birthday gifts from my granddad and we had not had chance to wear it.
"Some of it was sentimental. My wife had stuff she had been given when she passed exams at school.
"People had given us gifts that are not around anymore and you have lost that connection."
Thieves even took his son's birthday money, which was put aside for new toys.
"You get dressed up to go to functions so people take the jewellery from where they have kept it safe and for a few days they bring it home," he added.
"It could be someone has been watching our house for a while and monitoring when we come in and go out.
"It's more scary knowing someone is watching you.
"There is nothing we could have done. We secured the house but they had a crowbar. We can't stop thinking about it.
"The first person to walk in the house was my wife and my six-year-old son.
"He has felt it. They took his money for toys and he still has nightmares."
The thieves even used bleach from the kitchen and soaked the bedroom in order to hide their fingerprints.
He believes up to £10,000 of jewellery was taken in total.
Special sergeant Zoe Darnell, from the burglary enforcement special team for Nottinghamshire Police , said: "In the last few weeks there has been an increase in Asian gold burglaries, a lot of that has happened in West Bridgford. It is a possible link with Diwali.
"We are visiting victims and we are doing foot patrols around the areas targeted. The jewellery is left out and we would advise people to keep it locked up and secure and away from sight.
"We are seeing instances where people will try doors and windows, even when victims have been at home. There has been a few forced ones as well. Twenty-eight in the last two weeks."
