Police are continuing the hunt for a heartless crook who ruined an Angus family’s festive season with a brazen sneak-in theft.
As Helen Brown and her husband watched a movie in their Letham home, the thief coolly walked into their house in one of the village’s quiet streets and stole a handbag containing cash and irreplaceable sentimental photographs.
The family say they were stunned that someone had been bold enough to walk into their Park Grove home while they were sitting in the living room.
Helen admitted the incident continues to put a real dampener on a week in which most families can expect to spend quality time together.
The black Michael Kors tote bag which the thief took was as a 50th birthday present from husband, Brian, in October.
Helen said: “We were in all night on Christmas Eve and had been watching a film through in the living room.
“I never noticed anything when we went to bed and it was only on Christmas morning when I went to get my perfume that I noticed the bag was gone.
“I know it was definitely through there in the early evening and we can only think that someone came in through the porch door, saw the handbag sitting on the side of the bunker in the kitchen and just took it.
“They never took anything else and would have had to walk round the house to get in the porch door, but it’s such a scary thought that someone was in the house while we were through in the living room.”
Helen added: “I only got it for my 50th in October and it had my purse in it which as well as all my cards has various pictures of the kids which are of great sentimental value.
“There was only £30 of cash in it I had taken money out to put in my nieces and nephews cards for Christmas.
“You really don’t think you’re going to have to lock yourself in your house at night, but this has completely ruined the festivities for us.
“I didn’t sleep at all on Christmas night either after the thought of what had happened.”
She said: “If someone’s just been looking for money they may have just thrown the bag and the purse away so it might turn up.
“Hopefully somebody will know who did this.”
Police are investigating the theft and anyone with information should contact 101.