Organised crooks stole tens of thousands of pounds of cash and a haul of jewellery during a targeted raid at a family home.
A manhunt was last night underway after the five-figure sum of money was nicked from a house in Afton Drive, in Renfrew, on Sunday.
The distraught family returned from worshipping to find the house had been ransacked by thieves.
The Paisley Daily Express understands the break-in, which happened between 10.15am and 1.20pm, was pre-planned.
Police are treating the theft as part of a wider investigation known as Operation Suitcase, which aims to crack down on thieves stealing gold and cash from Asian families.
Detectives probing the incident say a young man and a black car were spotted in the street around 12.20pm.
The rear patio doors had been forced open and the house had been turned upside down.
Cops were yesterday scouring CCTV and carrying out door-to-door enquiries across the Dean Park area in a bid to catch those involved.
Detective Constable Karen Smith of Paisley Police Office said members of the public could hold the key to solving the case.
She said: “Officers have been carrying out house to house enquiries and are viewing CCTV footage from the local area, to gain any further information that will assist the ongoing investigation.
“A black car was seen in the street around 12.20pm and a young man was seen at the front door of the property at that time, so we are working to trace both the young man and the car.
“I would ask anyone who was in the Afton Drive area of Dean Park on Sunday morning to early afternoon who witnessed anything suspicious, or who has any information that may help our enquiry to contact Paisley Police Station through 101 quoting reference number 2137 of September 1.
“Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”
