POLICE are appealing for witnesses after organised burglars broke into a bungalow and stole 20,000 cigarettes and thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and cash.
The theft took place on Allsprings Close, Great Harwood, between 7.45pm and 11.55pm on Saturday.
The offenders cut a wire to a burglar alarm and removed the box before cutting the wires to Christmas lights and disconnecting the CCTV.
Sergeant Wendy Jacobs from Great Harwood Police Station said that the security camera was turned to face the wall before the offenders entered the rear of the home.
A patio door was forced open and the offenders went in through the conservatory and searched around once inside.
They removed a digital safe from inside a wardrobe which contained 20,000 Rothmans Royal cigarettes, £1,000 in Euros, £800 cash, £200 in £5 notes, three passports and personal papers and insurance documents.
The safe also contained various items of jewellery including a one carat yellow gold solitaire engagement ring worth £3,000, a one carat cluster diamond ring worth £1,000, a yellow band gold cluster diamond ring worth £2,000 and several chains and necklaces of an unknown value.
Detectives are now appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward.
Sgt Jacobs added: "These offenders had obviously planned the burglary very carefully and we would appeal for anyone with any information at all to come forward.
"The victims have understandably been left very shaken by the incident and we are keen to speak to anyone who can assist us with our investigations."
Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on freephone 0800 555 111 or Lancashire Police on 51212.
