A YOUNG couple arrived home to find sinister thieves had broken in to their home – and left a meat cleaver on their bed.

Burglars stole thousands of pounds of designer jewellery, clothes and handbags after they forced their way in the house in Amberden, Laindon, between 1pm and 10pm on Sunday.

One of the items taken was a £1,000 Michael Kors diamond ring.

The 27-year-old woman, who lives in the house with her fiance, is now warning other residents to be vigilant.

She said: “It’s been horrible. It’s just really awful knowing someone has been in your house.”

The thieves got in to the house by forcing open the kitchen window.

The victim said: “We arrived home at 10pm and saw the windowhad been busted open and the kitchen blind had fallen down.

The window is double-glazed and was double locked, so it must have been crow barred. My other half went in to make sure nobody was in there.

“Everything had been taken, the only thing they had left were the TVs.”

The thieves took an iPad, laptop computer and Michael Kors jewellery, including three pairs of earrings, a bracelet, necklace and two watches.

They also took two pairs of Mark Jacobs stud earrings, a Tiffany necklace, bracelet and earrings, a £1,000 Bulgari diamond ring, a Michael Kors handbag, Prada trainers and a pair of Topman shoes.

The victim said: “We think they must have been quite professional as we have a cream carpet in the living room and there were no footprints. We think they must have covered their feet with bags or something.

“They did not leave any fingerprints either. One of the most disturbing things is that we found they had taken a big meat knife from the chopping block in the kitchen and left it on our bed.

“I don’t know if that’s because they expected to find us in bed or if they had it for protection in case we came home.”

The victims have been to local pawn shops to see if any of their property has been brought in, but so far it has not.

The woman added: “It is really upsetting because we had good security. Even the police said we had the best locks and double glazing. Since the burglary we have decided to install cameras and an alarm.”