Opportunistic burglars raid family home amid 'horror movie' wildfires and make off with jewellery

Opportunistic burglars raid family home amid 'horror movie' wildfires and make off with jewellery

A family who were forced to flee their house during last week's wildfires finally returned home to discover their prized jewellery had been stolen. Last Thursday, fires ripped through Stourbridge in the West Midlands in scenes compared to a horror movie or apocalypse. Witnesses said ash had rained down for hours and described how the flames "jumped from house to house". Residents grabbed what they could and ran for it, with refuge centres set up at the town hall and at St Michael's Church in Norton. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say But with local homes empty until Sunday, burglars are believed to have moved in. West Midlands Police last night released images of six different items thought to have been stolen in Stourbridge. The homeowner was one of those evacuated on the day of the fire and they then returned home over the weekend to find items missing, including jewellery, watches and a coin collection, police said. Two pairs of cufflinks, a ring, two pocket watches and a wristwatch all vanished after the fires. The burglary took place on Racecourse Lane, detectives said, and it was thought to have happened in the last week. CCTV footage was being examined and house-to-house inquiries were being carried out, with uniformed and plainclothes patrols in and around the area, a spokesman added. Police also issued an appeal for the public to get in touch if they see any of the items being sold on the internet by calling 101 quoting crime reference 20/367823/26. On Monday Angela Rayner visited the burnt-out remains of homes in Stourbridge, describing scenes as "absolutely horrendous". WILDFIRE CHAOS - READ MORE: Panic as sirens blare from phones across England without warning amid 'severe' wildfire alert Britain's biggest summer fireworks display CANCELLED amid 'severe' wildfire alert Labour told to reverse woke green policies as campaigners say they make wildfires WORSE The Housing Secretary could be seen walking among the shells of houses on Quarry Park