THIEVES made off with an £8,000 haul after breaking into a house in Esh Winning, County Durham.

A distinctive jewellery box was among the goods stolen and police are hoping it could lead them to the crooks.

The burglary took place at a house in Valley Garth on Thursday, September 12, between 8.30 and 10pm, when the owners were out shopping.

The thieves jemmied the back door to gain entry and stole the box, containing about £6,500 in jewellery. Their haul included a man's silver Breitling watch with a blue face and woman's gold ring with a diamond set in a gold claw.

The box is wooden, 8in wide and 6in deep, with glass doors on the front and three drawers.

The burglars also made off with electrical goods, including a television and video, worth more than £2,000.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "That type of burglary is certainly unusual for the area.

"It suggests it may have been someone coming in from outside the area, perhaps an opportunist thief striking lucky. It is possible they were watching the house and waited until the occupiers were not there before breaking in."

Anyone who saw a vehicle strange to the Valley Garth area on the night of the theft, or with any other information, is asked to contact PC Paul Tallentire at Consett Police on (01207) 504204.