A FAMILY are terrified to sleep in their own home after they were targeted by burglars.

Adam Whitehead, 27, discovered his house in Brooklands Park, Laindon, had been ransacked as he went downstairs in the early hours of the morning to make a bottle for his one year-old daughter, Delilah.

Thieves had forced open the front door and pulled open drawers and cabinets in search of valuable items – all while the family of four slept upstairs.

Four-year-old son Ryley is scared the burglars will return, while Mr Whitehead has spent the past five nights sitting up on the sofa, keeping a look-out.

It is thought the thieves, who stole a 50ins television, two mobile phones, a laptop, iPad, and a set of keys, fled after a hungry Delilah started crying.

Mr Whitehead, who only moved into the house with partner Lauren Gager, 21, five months ago, said: “As soon as I came downstairs I could see the place had been ransacked and the front door was still shaking, so they can have only just have left.

“Lauren had woken up about 30 minutes earlier and heard a knocking sound, but didn’t think anything of it and went back to sleep.

“Its horrible to think these people were in our home and could have come upstairs at any time. When our little boy came downstairs and saw what a state it was, we had to explain what had happened, which was really tough.

“Now every time we put him to bed he says ‘I hope those nasty men aren’t going to come back’.”

The family have had to change the locks for both their house and car. CCTV cameras belonging to a neighbour suggested the two burglars tried to find the vehicle in the communal on-street parking area, but were unsuccessful.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Investigations are ongoing.”

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened at about 2am on Thursday, can call officers at Basildon police station on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.