A woman was "terrified" after returning home from her 73rd birthday celebrations to find it had been ransacked.
Mary Hardie said she was out for a meal at the Addison Arms, in Bootle, with her son when a burglar broke into her home and stole jewellery and ash.
The 73-year-old, who recently went into remission from cancer, said she didn't sleep for a week after the burglary on February 2 and she fears the man might still come back.
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Mary told the ECHO: "It was my birthday so my son asked me to go out for a meal. He brought me back, he came in, opened the door and he said 'mum I don't want you to go in there.'
"I said 'why?' and he said 'all your doors have been broken into and all your house is broken into.'"
"I never went to bed for a week. I was scared to sleep here but it's my home. It's been my home for 40 years.
"I rang the cancer bell in September and this happens to me now.
"I'm terrified in case he comes back."
Mary said the man was caught on CCTV breaking into her home by throwing a garden ornament at her back door and smashing the glass.
The man is said to have returned to the house three times to retrieve different items including Mary's Holy Quran and gold jewellery.
He is also said to have filled a rubbish bin with bottles of spirits which was found nearby the following day.
Mary said: "The fact is I'm normally in bed at at 7 o'clock. I would have been in bed when he came in - it would have been a different thing all together."
Merseyside Police said on Wednesday, February 9, a 44-year-old man, from Bootle, was arrested on suspicion of burglary in connection with the incident.
He was taken into custody for questioning and has since been released with no further action taken.
Police enquiries into the incident continue and anyone with any information is asked to contact police.
Inspector Ted Barr said: “Burglary is a despicable crime which can leave victims feeling their security at home has been completely violated.
“We know the pain and hurt it can cause victims, and launched a dedicated operation, Operation Castle, in 2018 to reinforce our commitment to tackling burglaries.
“This has led to year-on-year reductions in burglaries across Merseyside, sparing many residents the pain of being subjected to a burglary and sending burglars to jail for more 500 years in total.
“If you were in the Oriel Road area on Wednesday 2 February and saw anything or anyone suspicious then please let us know.
“Similarly if you were driving in the area between 2pm and 10.30pm and have dashcam footage, please review it and tell us if you see anything.
“Any information we get on burglaries and suspicious activity in your area could help us stop burglars in their tracks and protect others from this terrible offence.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or call 101 with reference 22000080850.
You can also call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111, or their online form here.
