UPDATE: Sentimental jewellery belonging to late wife stolen from home of Peterborough pensioner

Unknown offenders broke into the house in Meggan Gate, Longthorpe at some point between 8.30am and 10.20pm yesterday (Thursday, April 28).

They forced open a side door before ransacking the house and leaving with a number of items, including a personalised, engraved gold pocket watch, wedding and engagement rings worth more than £6,000 and an assortment of Royal Mint commemorative coins.

Detective Constable Fran Scott said: “The 75-year-old victim had been out all day when he returned at about 10.20pm to find his rear kitchen door had been forced open.

“He has been left very upset by what has happened as most of the jewellery stolen belonged to his late wife.

“I would appeal to anyone who has any information about the incident, or who may have seen people acting suspiciously in the area, to contact police.

“I would also appeal to anyone who has been offered any of the items for sale to call us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Peterborough Priority Crime Team on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Items taken in the burglary were:

A commemorative Olympics £2 coin marking the handover between London in 2012 to Rio in 2016

A commemorative Olympics £2 coin marking the handover between Beijing in 208 to London in 2012

An all silver Battle of Britain £2 coin

A £5 hexagonal silver coin commemorating the Queen and Prince Phillip’s diamond wedding anniversary

A Royal Mint coin commemorating the opening of the new Wembley Stadium

A Queen’s coronation shilling (pictured)

A silver £50 coin (pictured)

A gold pocket watch with the words ‘Presented to John Fitzgerald’ or similar, engraved on the back

A single gold band ladies wedding ring (pictured)

A 22 carat ladies gold wedding ring

A platinum engagement ring with a square diamond

An 18 carat platinum ring with three diamonds (pictured)

An analogue wrist watch with the words ‘Beverley Hills’ written across the face

A Toshiba laptop

A crystal flower vase

A commemorative pen for the Notre Dame School

A crystal dish

About £100 in Euro notes

Tarnished silver placemats