A WOMAN has issued a heartfelt appeal after a sentimental heirloom was stolen in a burglary at her parent’s house.

Lucy Dewar says her grandmother’s nursing badge, engraved with the initials KDC, was taken when their home in Love Lane, Rayleigh, was broken into.

Lucy, 39, said the thugs smashed through a kitchen door while her parents were staying at her house in Kent.

She said: “The police think someone came on foot from the station.

“They smashed the door, it must have made such a noise. It is very unsettling. They even took a pillowcase from my mum’s bed to take the jewellery away in.

“They didn’t go in the lounge at all, they just went straight up to the bedrooms. It is horrible. My parents lived in that house for 30 years and have never had any problems.”

A nursing badge used to be awarded to newly-qualified nurses and Mrs Dewar’s grandmother was given hers when she started her career.

She added: “She became a midwife and then worked at a hospital in Brentwood. We haven’t got anything left of hers now.”

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the break-in, which happened at some point between 1.30pm on Sunday, September 15 and 10.55pm on Monday, September 16.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “The householders returned home and discovered they had been broken into. Thieves smashed their way in before making an untidy search of the house and stealing jewellery including rings, lockets, necklaces, bracelets and watches.

“Our enquiries are continuing and anyone with information should call police on 101.”