A GRANDMOTHER was shocked and shaken as burglars ripped off her entire kitchen window to climb their way inside.

Jackie Keys, 61, returned home after a day of helping with her grandchildren, to find that her house in Horsley Cross, Basildon, had been ransacked.

The burglars had ripped out kitchen cupboards, tipped over belongings on the stairs and rifled through drawers in the bedroom.

Despite Mrs Keys hiding her collection of jewellery in a drawer, the thieves snatched her prized possessions before fleeing the house.

Her collection included her engagement ring, two eternity rings and a charm bracelet that she has had since she was 13.

Mrs Keys, who has three children and eight great-grandchildren, said: “We left the house at about 12.30pm and came home at about 6.45pm and that is when we noticed what had happened.

“The kitchen window was completely out.

“They had forced off the edging of the window and took it all out. That’s how they climbed into the house.

“They rifled all through the cupboards and found a basket in the hallway and they took old sets of car keys from there.

“Everything was all over the stairs.”

The stolen jewellery included a Pandora bracelet with a variety of charms, another Pandora bracelet and a Pandora watch, which was given to Mrs Keys as a Christmas present from her daughter.

The thieves also stole several pairs of earrings, two hologram necklaces and an oval locket with an embossed print.

She said: “Everything that I have collected over the years is just gone.

“It is all sentimental stuff and it’s not as if it was great value to anyone.

“The reason I took my engagement ring off it because I’ve lost weight and my rings were loose, so I was going to get that sorted out.

“I just feel completely numb.

“It is a shock and it is still setting in.

“You should feel safe in your own home.

“If they had knocked on our door and asked for money then we would have given them something - that is the kind of people that we are, we would help anybody out.

“I am just thankful that they didn’t touch the lounge because my dad’s ashes are on a window ledge and they could have knocked them over.”

The burglary happened sometime during the day on Tuesday.

It is understood that no arrests have been made so far and enquiries are continuing,

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.