A FAMILY out Christmas shopping returned home to find their house had been burgled.
Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward after the raid at Manston, near Sturminster Newton.
The offenders gained access to the house by forcing open a ground floor window and carried out an untidy search.
A Dell laptop with a red top, a Seiko men’s watch with a brown leather strap, a quantity of cash and Christmas cards were stolen.
PC Stuart Beasley, of Blandford police, said: “The owner was out Christmas shopping with her three young children at the time of the incident and it is believed the offenders may have been in the area of the village hall before and after the incident.
“I urge anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously along the B3091 during that time period to contact me.
“Dorset Police would like to reassure residents that it is rare for burglaries to be committed during the day time in North Dorset.”
It happened between 10.15am and 12.40pm on Friday, December 12 at a property on the B3091.
Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101, quoting incident number 12:178.
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