The night when it wasn’t just Father Christmas who came to our house....Cookham

To the thief who broke into our house in Cookham on Christmas Eve – it’s not too late to have a conscience! I am three years old and my brother is nine months old and we live with our mummy and daddy in Cookham. We are writing to you because you have made us feel very sad and only you have the power to change this... This Christmas was supposed to be a magical and sacrosanct one because it was the first one in our new home–our house and garden were like a winter wonderland full of festive cheer and joy. But on Christmas Eve, whilst we were visiting friends and attending the crib service (between 4.40pm and 7.15pm), you broke into our home through our conservatory door and shattered our celebrations. Mummy went into our house first and was shocked and dismayed to see of our prized possessions strewn all over the floor. She said she felt “violated” (I am not sure what that means but it doesn’t sound very nice) and daddy was just very angry that you could do this to us. You see Mr Thief, we’re not just gutted because you stole £500 of our family holiday money from daddy’s big silver piggybank, or that you took the bottles of champagne mummy and daddy were due to drink with friends on New Year’s Eve or that you stole mummy’s black leather purse containing £100 and all her cards, but it’s the sentimental items which have devastated us all the most – and the fact you’ve rifled through all our possessions. It’s the fact that you tried to destroy the sanctity of our home... Perhaps Mr Thief, you remember going into my parents’ bedroom and stealing all mummy’s jewellery in her black and grey holdall bag in her wardrobe? Inside that bag there was a treasure trove of memories and you have taken them away from her – a couple of threepenny bracelets she was given as a child, my great grandmother’s wedding ring, a pearl necklace, a Venetian glass necklace and a Swarovski diamante necklace, to name but a few. There were also some inexpensive African necklaces in that bag which are worthless to you but worth the world to my mummy because they remind her of her travels. So perhaps you are starting to see the consequences of your actions? But Mr Thief, there is some hope - we think you must have some kind of moral conscience as you did at least leave all our presents in tact under the tree on Christmas Eve. That’s why I am appealing to you to do the right thing and return our items to us (at least the jewellery which are so incredibly precious to my folks). You know where we live – alternatively, you could leave the items in a bag at Maidenhead police-station addressed to Detective Sergeant Dejan Avramovic . He will pass them onto us. One other final thought, Mr Thief – you may have temporarily shattered our peace on Christmas Eve, but you can’t destroy the spirit of Christmas, because that’s impossible. Fortunately, Father Christmas and his reindeer still visited us on Christmas Eve, and there was still plenty of joy and laughter in our house on Christmas Day – you couldn’t take that away from us. We hope you will reflect on what you have done and rectify it. Please don’t visit us again without an invitation! J and J

Anyone with information about the burglary is urged to contact Det Sgt Dejan Avramovic via the 24 hour police enquiry centre on 0800 555 111. Those who do not wish to speak to police or leave their name is urged to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The family have asked for their full address to be with held.