Furniture store owners Trevor and Annette Reeves had their home ransacked and jewellery including a unique anniversary gift stolen just days before they hoped to celebrate Mr Reeves' 60th birthday.

Mrs Reeves returned home with their granddaughter Elvie on June 22 at about 4pm to a picture of chaos after thieves broke in and looted expensive jewellery from her Kenley home.

Among the items taken was a specially designed 14th wedding anniversary gift from her husband which she had received less than a month earlier.

The gift is a gold necklace with a diamond encrusted fox head mounted upon a gold heart shape pendant.

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Mrs Reeves, 57, said: "I came in and there was glass all over the floor where they had broken through the patio door - at first I thought it might have been a bird who had flown into it, but you immediately realise the damage was too great.

"My granddaughter was really shaken by the experience. I just went from room to room and there were drawers open. I went into my bedroom. They had been really specific in what they had targeted - there was a laptop they could have gone for, other electronics."

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The raid happened just a day before the family, who own House of Reeves furniture store famously burned down in an arson attack during the 2011 riots, travelled to the south of France to celebrate Mr Reeves 60th birthday.

Mrs Reeves added: "We still enjoyed ourselves but it has overshadowed the whole thing.

"It just makes you so angry that people can do that. I just so hope someone out there knows something. I just want to catch them."

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Alongside the anniversary gift was also jewellery designed by her grandmother. Mrs Reeves added; "The expense is one thing, but it's so much more than that - these pieces have been in the family for years and are irreplaceable."

If anyone knows anything about the burglary, which took place along Fairoak Close between noon and 4pm, they should call Croydon CID on 101 quoting reference no. 3818298/15