BURGLARS ransacked a home and stole military medals, collectable coins and jewellery. 

Thieves smashed a patio door to get inside the home in London Road, Crays Hill.

They stole two NATO medals for military service in Bosnia and Kosovo and two medals commemorating the Queen’s golden and diamond jubilees.

Three gold sovereigns were stolen. One was dated 1878, featuring a portrait of Queen Victoria, and was in a gold pendant mount on a gold belcher type chain. Another was dated 1908 and featured King Edward VII. The third was dated 1982 and was in a Royal Mint presentation case.

A coin and stamps commemorating Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding, a Royal Mint coin display case dated 1976 and a collectible 20 pence piece dated June 1982 were also stolen.

The jewellery included gold chains and earrings, a gold wedding ring, a silver ladies’ bracelet inlaid with crystals, a pink Swarovski heart pendant with a small butterfly emblem on a white gold chain, a silver christening bracelet and watches.

Other items including a black Samsung Galaxy S3, black iPhone 4s, Apple iPad 2, a Samsung Galaxy Tab A, Sony Cybershot camera and Hitachi video camera were also taken.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who has been offered the items for sale or knows of their whereabouts.

They would also like to speak to anyone who witnessed the burglary or saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time.

It happened at 10am on Sunday, October 23, but Essex Police have only just released the details today.

Contact Dc Karen Miller at Basildon CID on 101.

Alternatively, contact independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not have to attend court.