THIEVES have kicked an Ipswich man while he was down by stealing hundreds of pounds worth of electrical items salvaged after a fire destroyed part of his home.

THIEVES have kicked an Ipswich man while he was down by stealing hundreds of pounds worth of electrical items salvaged after a fire destroyed part of his home.

Steve Wilson is today coming to terms with losing houseware including his fridge and mountain bike to thieves, less than three weeks after a fire ripped through his Chantry home and forced his family to move out.

Mr Wilson, 24, lived with his sons Keiran, seven, and James, two and partner Elizabeth Bowers, 27, in a council house in Robin Drive until the blaze on Saturday, February 3.

Ms Bowers and James were in the house with four friends when the blaze broke out in the bedroom. It destroyed all their clothes, a television and a stereo and stopped the gas and electricity from working.

The couple are living with separate friends while work is done on the house, and were shocked on a visit to the property to find thieves had broken into an outbuilding where salvaged items were being stored.

Mr Wilson said: “I am shocked. I can't believe the two strikes of bad luck we've had so close together and what we are going through.

“These people are cretins.

“It was all in a timber-framed music room in the garden where we had screwed the door to the walls so people couldn't get in.

“When we went to the house on Thursday , we could see the screws were missing.

“They took hi fi equipment, a DVD player, a fridge and a mountain bike, worth around £900 all together.”

The thieves, who struck Wednesday, left behind items including a washing machine and a television.

Now Mr Wilson, who had not insured the stolen goods, has put more secure locks on the building.

He said: “I suppose if thieves can't get through the door they will try the windows or something else. You can stop them if they are determined.”

Mr Wilson, who has another property in Sproughton, is expected to be able to return home with his family to Robin Drive in April or May.

A police spokesman said: “We are appealing for anyone with any information to this crime to come forward.”

N Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Pc Owen Saxton at Suffolk police on 01473 613500.

N Have you been the victim of thieves? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk