Burglars attack family home in £30k raid

Burglars trashed a home in Walsall and stole more than £30,000 of jewellery, cash and electronic equipment, while the family were taking their sick grandmother to hospital.

Raiders ransacked every room of the house in Jerome Road, Alumwell, getting away with the family's treasured jewellery, passports, games consoles, camcorder, laptop computer and cash.

Father-of-four Imran Khan said the family was devastated by the crime.

Mr Khan, aged 35, said: "We were out visiting my mother who had been taken ill. She was so poorly we decided to take her to hospital.

"When my wife arrived back home from hospital, the whole house had been turned upside down. Every single room was ransacked.

"They had smashed through the back door and then destroyed every room. We have managed to tidy everything up now but it has really shocked us. It's a horrible feeling knowing that someone was in our house.

"This is the last thing we need what with my mother being so ill. She is still in hospital."

Unemployed Mr Khan, who has two girls aged 12 and six and two boys aged 11 and two, said the thieves got away with a precious haul of Asian jewellery made up of six bangles, a necklace and earrings. "It's very expensive," Mr Khan said. "But it's not the monetary value, it's sentimental because it belonged to my mum."

West Midlands Police confirmed the burglary took place some time between 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Sunday.

Spokeswoman Gina Lycett said inquiries were continuing.

Asian gold is a prime target for criminals and there has been a string of high-profile burglaries in Walsall recently.

Dulhan Jewellers in Milton Street, Palfrey, was targeted by armed raiders on October 13, followed by Laxmi Jewellers in Wednesbury Road, Pleck, on October 21. They were two of at least five jewellery raids in the West Midlands in recent weeks. Anyone with information should call police on 0345 113 5000 or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.