POLICE are today hunting expert thieves who stole a staggering haul of high-value goods after they crept into a couple's home as they slept.Burglary victims Andrew and Emma Hunt warned people to make their homes more secure after the raiders broke into their converted barn and cleared their home of possessions valued at £30,000, including a latest model Lexus car.

POLICE are today hunting expert thieves who stole a staggering haul of high-value goods after they crept into a couple's home as they slept.

Burglary victims Andrew and Emma Hunt warned people to make their homes more secure after the raiders broke into their converted barn and cleared their home of possessions valued at £30,000, including a latest model Lexus car.

The Hunts were in bed in their Little Bealings home when the thieves forced their way inside. Today they warned of the dangers of leaving keys and valuables lying around.

Among the possessions stolen was a 42-inch plasma TV, a Dell laptop computer, a Technics stereo system, £1,600 in cash, Mr Hunt's passport and wallet and the couple's bank books.

When the burglars left they took with them the key fob for Mr Hunt's six-month-old £25,000 silver Lexus IS 220 and used it to steal the car from their drive. As an added bonus for the thieves, in the boot was a set of Ben Sayers golf clubs.

The couple had gone to bed at 11pm on Friday and Mr Hunt, a project manager for a major house builder, discovered the theft at 6am on Saturday.

He said: “The first thing I saw was the big plasma telly gone.

“I was gutted. I looked round to see where the car keys were and I ran down the drive in my boxer shorts.

“When we came here we thought nothing like this would ever happen.”

The couple have been shaken by their ordeal and are convinced the thieves would have known they were home when they struck.

Mrs Hunt, a 23-year-old care assistant, returned from work at 9.45pm on Friday and noticed horses in a nearby stable making a commotion. She believes the thieves disturbed the horses as they watched from the cover of bushes until she and her husband went to bed.

Mr Hunt, 33, said: “I was upset on Saturday. I was in tears because we were at home when it happened.”

The couple, originally from London, moved to their home in Hall Road 14 months ago after a year at Grange Farm, Kesgrave.

Today they are preparing to buy a Doberman dog and to install CCTV, an alarm system and electric gates on their driveway.

Mr Hunt said: “The reason we moved here was because it was quiet. Over the last 48 hours we haven't been able to sleep. We thought of going to a hotel.

“I just want people to realise what could happen.”

The thieves gained entry to the home by chiselling through a door frame before jemmying a lock. They left through the front door which was locked but with the keys left in the lock on the inside of the door.

Suffolk police are investigating the burglary and anyone with information should call Dc Sarah Primmer on 01473 613500.

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