A COUPLE was left shocked after a burglar broke into their home and stole around £1,000 of sentimental jewellery.

Brian Larty and Mandy Thorp-West were not aware of what the thief had done until they began to put the ‘pieces of the puzzle together’.

On Thursday, April 25, Brian, who works as a welder, returned to their home in Harewood Avenue in Southbourne to find various objects out of place.

“I got in about 15 minutes before Mandy and noticed a few things but blamed the dog for the things on the floor,” said Brian.

“Then Mandy came home and after speaking to her we put two and two together and the penny dropped and realised bugger we’ve been burgled.”

The pair,  both in their 50s, then checked an internal motion camera that watches their dog and noticed the man dressed in black.

“The disturbance that the burglar made, the dog moved, clicked the camera into action, and that's how we first saw the pair of legs walk past the kitchen patio doors.

“Then the next short burst, you could hear him trying to break in or get through the door, and the next burst we saw him walking through.”

The man made away with various sentimental jewellery that Brian had gifted Mandy throughout their 19-year relationship, as well as a rare watch Brian’s father had given him on his passing.

Brian has visited multiple cash convertors and pawn shops in an attempt to find the stolen items but to no avail.

Some of the pieces taken also included handmade jewellery Mandy had created herself.

Brian added they have lived in the area for 15 years and had never experienced any crime.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “At 6.52pm on Thursday 25 April 2024, Dorset Police received a report of a burglary at an address in Harewood Avenue in Bournemouth.

“It is reported that entry was gained to the property where a search was conducted by the offender and several items were taken.

“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

“No arrests have been made.”