IPSWICH: A bemused landlord is today counting the cost of a bizarre break-in – during which burglars stole beds, a wardrobe and even a washing machine.

When Christopher Robinson drove by his property in Chevallier Street to see the door wide open, he initially thought an estate agent had been showing round a prospective client.

But suspicion got the better of the 45-year-old, who rang the agent to discover nobody was booked in for a viewing all day.

“They told me no-one was there,” said Mr Robinson, who owns several properties around town and runs cleaning and maintenance company, CleanUp. “I turned the car round and went back to find the door had been kicked open.”

Mr Robinson, from Humber Doucy Lane, then discovered the rear door and window had also been forced open, and that the house had been looted.

“Whoever did it must have broken in through the window and realised they couldn’t get everything out of the back door – so they kicked in the front door as well,” he said.

The list of stolen property includes two divan beds, two mattresses, a wardrobe, a table and a washing machine.

The break-in happened some time between 1pm on Tuesday, November 23 and 7pm the next day.

Mr Robinson, who has owned the home for the last two years, was left utterly bewildered by the raid, which could end up costing him thousands of pounds.

He added: “Who in their right mind would break into a house and nick a washing machine?

“Definitely more than one person, that’s for certain.

“It would have been a struggle for them to get the washing machine out.

It’s bizarre – I am still gob-smacked.”

Mr Robinson estimates the cost of the break-in to be in the region of �2,500. Police have asked anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time, or can help in any other way with the investigation, to call Dc Laura Hicks at Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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