A FAMILY have been left terrified after thieves ransacked their home - and returned days later to take their car.

Mrs Riffat Asghar had gone to pick up her 12-year-old son Tanzeel from school, only to return to find her house had been turned upside down.

Among the items stolen were an iPad, an iPod, a laptop, a PlayStation 3, jewellery and about £300 in cash.

The thieves had gained entry to the house in Manchester Road after kicking down a UPVC panel of the door, and reaching through to take the key and gain entry.

During the worry and stress of the first incident on November 26, Mrs Asghar did not realise that a spare set of keys for the family's black Toyota Avensis were missing.

Then, just days later on December 1 the thieves returned and took the car.

Mrs Asghar said she is traumatised by the incident, and is worried about leaving the house but thankful that her husband Saeed Afzal and her son were not in during the burglary.

She said: "It is disgusting, I can't live like this. I am too frightened to go out because I think someone else might come back and do it again."

Mrs Asghar had left the house slightly earlier than usual to pick up her son, who attends Bury Church High School, to go to the post office but she had only been gone for about an hour-and-a-half.

She says the incident has affected Tanzeel in a bad way.

She said: "It has had a big impact on him. When he comes back from school, he is on edge and thinks someone is going to come back. I don't want it to affect his studies."

Mrs Asghar also said she wants to raise awareness in the community, after a number of other attempted burglaries were reported in the area recently.

Two attempted burglaries on Manchester Road were reported to police in the same week, both of which also occurred during the daytime.

PC Chris Bunce, of Bury Police, urged residents to take precautions to ensure their home is secure, especially at this time of year.

He said: "Everything that could have been done has been done for the family. We have attended their home and installed new locks and extra security.

"There has been one of two incidents in the area, but it is nothing out of the ordinary.

"We would urge people to make sure that they lock all doors and windows, even when they are in the house, and use timers when they are not in to make it look like people are in."

Anyone with information on the incident can call police on 101.