Jewels taken from Coventry home during hospital trip

[dutchman]

Thieves have stolen jewellery valued at £40,000 from the home of a Coventry woman while she was in hospital.



The 74-year-old, from Stoke, was seeing specialists at a London hospital for a spinal condition when the burglary took place, police said.

The offenders, believed to be a man and a woman, also stole a purse containing more than £100.

Many of the stolen items were part of a collection bought over the past 50 years from jewellers around the world.

The haul included more than 20 rings, varying in quality from nine carat to 18 carat, bearing stones such as aquamarine, sapphires and topaz, the spokesman said.

Ten necklaces, 13 bracelets and numerous brooches and pendants were also taken in the robbery last month.

Investigating officer, Det Con Richard Elliott, said: "There's a huge amount of sentimental value attached to the pieces as they were passed down by her late mother. Very few can be replaced and the insurance won't remotely cover the amount stolen.