A distraught and heartbroken family in Stebbing have just had their Christmas ruined for this year, after they came back from holiday last week (January 4) and discovered the childrens’ presents stolen.

Jewellery, cash, and china dolls were also taken from the house on Warehouse Road in Stebbing, sometime between December 19, 2016 and January 4, 2017.

The family had just come home after a winter break in Cape Verde to discover the glass to the back door broken, the Christmas tree pushed over, baubles smashed, and all the presents taken.

Four children and their mum lost their gifts, which she said were wrapped up in Disney’s Frozen paper and so she believes the burglars knew they were for children.

The victim, who did not want to be named, said: “my children are heartbroken, and I’m devastated.

“You go through a mixture of emotions, I cried for the first four or five days, then I got angry, because how could people be so cruel?

“It was in Frozen paper, but they just didn’t care.”

It would be too expensive to replace everything at once, she said, so the family are planning to write off Christmas and replace the gifts slowly over the coming year.

The burglars also stole old but expensive items, such as an Xbox, and sentimental things, such as a collection of Royal Doulton china dolls given to the victim by her late mother - she said she would never be able to replace them.

She said: “I am just hoping by doing this with the press and social media that someone will find out something.”

Detective Constable Gemma White said: “The victims were away on holiday over the Christmas and New Year period and found a number of items had been stolen.

“They are absolutely distraught because their children didn’t get the chance to open their presents.”

Anyone with information useful to the investigation should call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.