EXPENSIVE watches and jewellery of sentimental value was among property worth a total of £24,645 stolen in a burglary at a house in Bromsgrove.

Detectives are interested in identifying a man who called at the property in New Road offering gardening and hedge-cutting services a few weeks before the burglary, which happened between the afternoon of Monday, April 14 and the morning of Wednesday, April 16. The break-in was discovered while the householders were away and the haul included six men’s and women’s watches with brands such as Tag Heuer, Giorgio Armani, Tissot and Seksy which together were worth just under £8,000.

A bracelet and a gold wedding ring which belonged to relatives of the victims were together worth £3,800 while distinctive items included a bright burnt orange Luis Vuitton handbag with ‘LV’ gold clasp, worth £3,500; a bright pink Gucci purse worth £250; 21 sets of cufflinks including one set with names engraved on them, together worth £850; and a TaylorMade golf bag with Titleist irons, Callaway driver and fairway wood worth a total of £850.

There were also two brand new iPads taken along with £860 in cash and various jewellery including gold and diamond bracelets and necklaces.

Detective Constable Mark Lazenby said: “The property stolen adds up to a very significant sum and the burglary has caused the owners a lot of upset and distress, not least because some of the items of jewellery had great sentimental value.

"Certain items are very distinctive and it’s highly likely that the thieves will try to sell a lot of it on at ‘bargain’ prices. We would ask people to contact us if they think they have been offered any of this property or have seen items like this for sale.

“One line of enquiry we are looking into is a visit to the house by a man offering gardening and hedge-trimming services which happened a few weeks before the burglary. We need to trace that person if only to rule him out of the investigation.

“If other homes nearby were also visited in recent weeks by a man offering such services then we would like to hear about that.”

Anyone with information should contact Detective Constable Lazenby at Redditch Police Station on the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident reference 85-S-160414.

Details may also be given anonymously to Crimstoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.