A MOTHER today told of the devastation caused by burglars after a series of homes were raided in Ipswich.The woman was speaking as police issued an urgent warning to householders after nearly 60 properties were hit in the west of the town in the past month.

A WOMAN has scuffled with an intruder in the latest in a string of burglaries in west Ipswich.

As police stepped up patrols in response to a spate of incidents, a 24-year-old woman walked into her home in Waterloo Road to find a man coming down her stairs.

He tried to push past the woman and she grabbed him by his hooded top but he managed to push free and ran out of the house.

The incident and another, in Allenby Road last night, took the number of burglaries between December 1, 2005 and January, 4 in west Ipswich to 59.

As police today issued an urgent warning to householders to be on their guard, an Ipswich mother told of the devastation caused by burglars.

She did not want to be named, said her family is now considering leaving their home of more than 16 years after burglars struck.

Among the items taken in the raid on their Beechcroft Road home were her and her husband's wedding and engagements, worth £3,000 in cash but with a priceless sentimental value.

She said: “We love our house but we don't feel comfortable in it anymore.

”It's not very nice to think someone has been in the house. They went through our children's bedroom and it's difficult to get over that.”

The majority of the burglaries have been committed in the Bramford Lane (12), Whitehouse (six), Old Stoke (10) and Stoke Park (11) areas between December 1 last year and January 4 this many.

Some householders have been faced with burglars in their homes while others had presents stolen on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Many of the incidents have been break-ins on houses where windows and doors are secure.

Detective Inspector Darrin Tomkins, who is overseeing the investigation, said: “It is imperative that anyone who notices something or someone acting suspiciously, no matter how insignificant they feel it is, call us straight away.

“We have got a number of leads we are following up and a team of officers are working on it.”

Lisa Miller, a spokeswoman for Ipswich police said the number of burglaries always increases when the clocks go back because of longer hours of darkness, although she said the number over the last month was significantly higher than recent months.

She advised householders to fit light timers to deter burglars and said dead locks on doors were also a good idea.

Some victims have been confronted by burglars in their home but DI Tomkins said “no violence had been used against anybody.”

Police advise anyone who finds a burglar in their home not to approach them and to call 999 immediately.

Di Tomkins added: “Every burglary causes anxiety and feelings of invasion of privacy, which is why it is one of our priorities.”

Last night's burglaries took place in Waterloo Road at about 5.15pm and in Allenby Road between 9pm and 9.30pm.

In the burglary in Waterloo Road a man took a carrier bag containing cash and bottles of perfume.

He is described as white, 17-19, of slim build and about 5ft 7in.

He had dark hair, wore a grey hooded zip-up top, dark jeans, a baseball cap and white trainers.

Nothing was taken in the Allenby Road incident but the house was searched.

A neighbour saw two men standing outside. They are described as a male of mixed race, about 6ftand aged 25-27 years.

He had dark short hair and wore a grey hooded top and dark trousers.

The second is described as a white male, 25-27 years old with dark hair.

He wore a black hooded top with stripes down the sides and blue jeans

Anyone with information about the incidents should call Dc Steve Clarke at Ipswich police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.