BURGLARS fled with £5,000 in cash and irreplaceable jewellery after smashing their way into a Weymouth house.

The raiders broke into the home in the Everest Road area of Rodwell to steal the valuables as well as chequebooks and paperwork.

Police said the thieves broke down a back door to enter the house before ripping out and stealing a fixed safe and valuables.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s community safety spokesman Ian James expressed his shock over the burglary.

He said: “Everybody is going through hard times financially at the moment but that doesn’t give anybody the right to break into someone’s house and steal their belongings.

“I feel for the people whose goods were stolen because I expect they worked very hard to have what they did.

“My sympathy goes out to them, especially over the jewellery, which will have sentimental value to them, and I expect this has ruined Christmas for them this year.

“I would appeal for anyone with information about the crime to come forward.

“Even if it seems the information might be trivial, it could still help the police.

“Somebody must have seen something, especially if these people walked out of the house carrying a safe.”

Police said the burglars forced their way in through a rear ground-floor door and used either tools or brute force to rip out and steal the safe, which was fixed to the floor, between midday and 9pm on Thursday.

The haul included around £2,000 in cash and £3,000-worth of jewellery as well as the cheque books and other paperwork.

PC Nick Gravenor, of Weymouth Police, said: “Among the stolen items was a dark grey metal safe and various items of jewellery that belonged to the victim’s mother, and these are of great sentimental value.

“One particular item is a lady’s 18ct gold ring with sapphire and diamonds.

“Naturally, the victim is distraught at the loss of these valuable items and is desperate for the stolen items to be recovered.

“I am appealing for anyone who witnessed any suspicious or unusual activity in this area to contact me as soon as possible.

“I would also appeal to those responsible to do the right thing and return the jewellery, in particular the ring, as it is completely irreplaceable and means a great deal to the victim.”

Neighbours were also shocked.

Retired school cook Barbara Grainger, 72, said: “I didn’t know anything about this until the police came to my door making enquiries.

“It was quite a surprise and it’s a shame for the people involved. I can only hope they were properly insured.”

Mrs Grainger’s son Adam, 31, added: “I’m shocked and my thoughts go out to the family.

“There’s no excuse for invading someone’s home and ruining their lives like that.”

Mum of two Shelley Gardner, 30, added: “It’s quite worrying, even though I always keep my property locked up.”

Anyone with information about the burglary should call Dorset Police on 01305 222222.