A gang of masked men made off with an Audi Q3 and VW Transporter van after breaking into a house and stealing keys while the occupants slept upstairs

Michelle Cooper says she was left sickened by the theft from their home in Oaklands Road, Fleet Estate, Dartford, at around 3am on Tuesday morning; while partner Hubie Thompson lost his livelihood as the van contained specialist tools for structural glazing.

CCTV of the incident

The incident follows a spate of similar thefts in north and west Kent and the couple are now warning others to be vigilant, while hoping that someone may have information that could help police track the culprits.

"We were asleep upstairs" said Michelle. "Just one of them came in but the lady down the road said five of them were outside.

"The one who broke in came into the living room, then came into the kitchen and I don't know how he knew they were there, but he just put his hand straight in the wine rack and found the keys. It was really bizarre.

"Whether that's an obvious place I don't know. He went through the handbag on the side as well."

The thieves then made off with a gun metal grey VW Transporter with a roof rack, registration LJ18 RXO, and a silver Audi Q3 S Line, registration L17 MLC.

And Michelle said it was traumatising to realise someone had been in their house while they were asleep.

"They took they Audi first and then as soon as that came off the drive they jumped in the van and drove down the road," added Michelle. "It took six minutes from when they broke in, but they were in the street half an hour before casing the road.

"It's been really upsetting - it's hard to talk about.

"My partner - his whole livelihood was in the back of that van. He's a structural glazier and does architectural buildings. He's been doing that since he was 16 and he's built up everything in the back of that van.

"We've had to change the locks because there was a spare door key with them. You don;t know if they might try their luck and come back.

"I do sometimes sleep downstairs so it's scary to think I could have been there. If I had heard the door I would have woken up."

Kent Police confirmed they were investigating the burglary, and that officers were reviewing CCTV footage and conducting enquiries.

Last week police warned people not to leave car keys in view following a spate of burglaries around north and west Kent, in which thieves targeted high-value vehicles in Gravesend Shorne and Larkfield in November.

Anyone with information on the theft in Oaklands Road is asked to call Kent Police on 01474 366149 quoting reference 46/226178/19.

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