Heartless crooks “ransacked” a Harold Hill home stealing Christmas presents, an engagement ring and a dead mother’s jewellery.

The burglars struck the Straight Road house on Friday of last week, sometime between 9.30am and 8pm, while the occupants were at work.

They stole jewellery hidden in a loft, as well as �500 in cash and wrapped up Christmas presents including mobile phones, an ipad and a Sat Nav.

One of the residents, who was too scared to give her name, said: “The presents were in the loft as I hadn’t got round to putting my tree up yet and we’d just had a new floor put in.

“They ransacked the house, I still feel nervous about it now. They even turned over my mattress to see what they could find.”

She said the thieves even stole the receipts for the presents for her adult children which were stored nearby, so she does not know if she can claim the costs back on her insurance.

She added: “My partner’s mum died earlier this year and her jewellery was taken – an emerald ring, earrings and a watch.

“I don’t normally take my engagement ring off but I had a boil on my finger and so that was there. It’s gone too.”

The traumatised painter and decorator said she is trying to remain positive after the incident, but is finding it difficult.

“I don’t know what to think of the people that did it, I just don’t know how people could do something like that, we worked hard to get what we had, it’s just devastating,” she said.

Anyone with information about the incident should call Romford CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.