At least 12 properties were targeted by burglars in the space of six days including the home of a naval veteran who had £9,000 worth of jewellery stolen.

Scott Langworthy’s home in St Helen’s Road, Sheerness, was broken into on Sunday at some time between 12.40pm and 5.30pm.

The thieves ignored electrical goods including an iPad, TV and laptop and went straight for the jewellery upstairs.

Some of it is irreplaceable, such as a wedding ring and locket which belonged to Mr Langworthy’s deceased aunt.

Rolex, Gucci and Brietling watches, platinum and gold rings and bracelets are among some of the items missing.

Initially Mr Langworthy feared medals he received during his 21 years in the Royal Navy – including the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and former Yugoslavia – had been taken. But they were later found under the bed.

The burglars broke down a wooden fence and forced open a conservatory window before smashing the glass on a patio door to get into the house.

Mr Langworthy, 42, said: “I was absolutely livid. They violated our property by coming into our home. It just makes me sick to my stomach. They obviously had the time to rummage through our things.”

His three-year-old daughter Florence had trouble sleeping after her room was ransacked.

Character Meet and Greet, a Sheppey-based business offering costumed visits to children’s parties, read about the break-in on Facebook and sent Minnie Mouse with a cake to visit her.

Her mother Lisa Langworthy said: “I think it was such a lovely thing for them to do.

“She was absolutely terrified. She kept saying, ‘don’t let them get me mummy, don’t let them get me’, and she had to stay at her nan’s because she was so scared to stay here.”

Police are not linking the crimes and no arrests have been made.

Det Insp Mike Worrall said: “The incidents reported are a combination of burglaries from people’s houses, sheds and attempted break-ins where nothing has been stolen.

“We work with a number of second hand outlets locally to try to recover the goods.

“In the past we have had great success with this method and in a recent operation recouped over £100,000 worth of suspected stolen goods.

“Each and every one of these offences will be thoroughly investigated and we will do everything in our power to put burglary suspects before the court.”

• A piece of medical equipment was stolen from a house in Alexandra Road, Sheerness, at around midnight last Tuesday. Two men were disturbed by a resident (XY/027064/14)
• An African grey parrot worth £400 and jewellery worth more than £1,000 was stolen from a home in Queensway, Sheerness, on Wednesday. (XY/027109/14
• Two sheds were damaged in an attempted burglary in High Street, Sheerness, between Thursday and Friday (XY/027394/14)
• Jewellery and cash worth £500 were stolen from a home in Wellesley Road, Sheerness, between 1am and 2am on Friday (XY/027313/14)
• A shed was broken into but nothing stolen in Galway Road, Sheerness, between 12.30am and 6.45am on Friday (XY/027403/14)
• An attempted burglary at a shed in Coronation Road, Sheerness, on Friday between 2am and 7.30am. No items were taken but a dog has gone missing. (XY/027411/14)
• An attempted burglary at a shed in Wellesley Road, Sheerness, between 3.30am and 9am on Friday. Nothing stolen (XY/027431/14)
• An attempted burglary in Jefferson Road, Sheerness, between August 1 and 3 (XY/027589/14)
• iPad worth £400 stolen from a house in Alma Street, Sheerness, between 7.30am to 10pm on Saturday (XY/027490/14)
• Two men were seen trying to break into a garden shed in Seager Road, Sheerness, on Saturday. (XY/027502/14)
• An attempted burglary in Vincent Gardens, Sheerness, at 3.30pm on Sunday (XY/027554/14)

Call police on 101 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.