A WOMAN has been left “petrified” after masked thieves ransacked her home as she slept, her son says.

A man wearing a balaclava broke into the woman’s home in Wickhay, Basildon and stole her handbag after searching her home while another man kept watch outside.

The victim, who recently underwent surgery for poor hearing, remained asleep throughout and only found out about the break-in when her friend came home hours later.

Now, she says she is scared to be home alone as police launch an investigation into the incident at about 2am on Thursday and have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

The woman’s son, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “When she’d realised, she and her friend went downstairs to see if anything else was taken.

“She’d had a delivery that day so there were quite a few parcels there but they were left alone, which makes me think they were targeting bags.

“Mum doesn’t want to be home on her own now as you can imagine – someone coming into your house while you’re sleeping is terrifying.”

Following the burglary, a neighbour’s CCTV caught the thieves leaving the property to head down a nearby alleyway where some of the victim’s personal items – but not the bag – were found.

The victim’s son added: “It’s strange and I think they must’ve been watching the house because she only went to sleep an hour before this happened.

“At first I thought they were chancers but when we noticed the balaclavas, you don’t go out like that for no reason so obviously they had an agenda.”

The police were called and were “really responsive”, arriving at the property within ten minutes.

A forensics team also attended and lifted prints from the property.

The victim’s son said: “I’ve also seen that a car was broken into here recently and there were tools in the car but all that was taken was a rucksack, which makes me think bags and rucksacks are being targeted.

“Hopefully we get awareness out there because they have no qualms about coming back.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Officers are investigating a burglary which was reported to have happened in Basildon in the early hours of Thursday. A property in Wickhay was accessed and the victim’s handbag was stolen.

“Inquiries are ongoing. Anyone who witnessed anything or has information is asked to contact us and quote 42/24708/24.”