BURGLARS forced open the side window of a family home in Malvern and stole cherished, irreplaceable family photos.

Police are appealed for witnesses to the burglary which happened on Carlton Road sometime between 3.15pm and 6.50pm on Tuesday, January 28.

The thieves also took the owner's car - a silver Saab 9-3 Aero convertible - and several other items, including three televisions, a Celestron star-gazing telescope, a silver Apple MacBook Pro, a Sony video camera, a Canon camera and a painting of flamingos in an aqua frame.

Detective Constable Verity Farr from Worcester Proactive CID said the family had no other copies of the photos and only had digital copies on the items which were stolen.

She said: “The owners of the property are devastated by what has happened. They are particularly distressed by the loss of the MacBook and video camera where they have stored all their family photos, including pictures and videos of their children from birth, because they don’t have any copies.

“We are appealing for anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the Carlton Road area of Malvern or saw a silver Saab convertible being driven in the town to contact us.

“We would particularly like to hear from anyone who saw a white Mercedes A class (new model) in the Malvern area on Tuesday afternoon as well.

“Also, if anyone has been offered any of the items resembling those stolen, they should call us straight away.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Farr on the non-emergency police number 101, quoting incident number 578s 280114.

Alternatively information can be passed on anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or completing its online form by logging on to crimestoppers-uk.org.