Christmas presents stolen from a home in Vigo were returned by police officers with one day to spare.

The gifts, which included chocolates and books, were stolen from a property in The Coppice during the early hours of Monday, December 17.

A Macbook, a handbag and a toddler’s favourite pair of butterfly trainers were also stolen.

Police officers found the presents discarded in a car park in Townsend Road, Snodland, and issued pictures of them in a bid to reunite them with their rightful owners.

The victim saw pictures of their stolen presents published in news reports and officers arranged for the property to be returned on Christmas Eve.

PC Alexandra Youngman, one of the officers working on the case said: "We know how distressing it can be to be a victim of burglary so it was really satisfying to be able to return these stolen items to their rightful owners in time for Christmas.

"Burglary is an intrusive offence that can cause a great deal of upset for victims and we are committed to doing all we can to bring offenders to justice.

"Prevention however is always better than cure and there are a number of steps residents can take to keep their homes secure."

These include locking windows, side gates and garages and turning on burglar alarms and marking valuables to assist with identification.

Other tips include using timers for indoor lighting and ranging for people to visit the property while you are away.

Other steps to make your home more secure include putting bins away so they can’t be used to climb on and being careful what you post online and on social media regarding valuables and your movements and valuables should also be insured.

Registering important items for free at www.immobilise.com will also help police return stolen items if they are recovered.

At present, no suspect has been identified in connection with the burglary.

Anyone with information should call 01622 604100 quoting 46/26115/18 or Crimstoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.