THOUSANDS of pounds worth of goods were stolen in an afternoon burglary at the weekend.

A Seaham couple returned from a short shopping trip, on Saturday, to find their house had been ransacked and property, including computers and jewellery, had been taken.

The family had left their terrace house, in St Aldwyn Road, for 45 minutes to go shopping, returning shortly before 2pm.

Among the goods stolen during the burglary were two laptop computers, worth an estimated £800 each, three mobile phones, an i-pod, a digital camera, Virgin V cosmetics and three jewellery boxes, containing a considerable number of gold necklaces, bracelets and watches, along with 40 gold belly-bar rings.

No final figure has been established for the value of the goods, but police say it runs to several thousand pounds.

Officers investigating the theft say that a car, which had earlier been stolen in the Northumbria Police area, had been seen cruising in the area during Saturday afternoon.

PC Gemma Royal said: "We are particularly interested in hearing from any member of the public who might have seen or heard anything suspicious in that area.

"We would also like information about a green Renault Clio, which was seen by a neighbour being driven in that street minutes before the burglary. Clearly, a stolen vehicle seen cruising in the street is of interest to us.

"We can't say the house was deliberately targeted, the thieves may have been watching and waiting, saw an opportunity when the family went out and took it."

Anyone with information is asked to ring police on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.