The victims of a house burglary have spoken of their heartbreak after the thief stole a diamond engagement ring passed down through their family.
Helen Millar, 57, had just returned home to Ballumbie with husband Kenneth, 65, when the pair realised nearly £2,500 worth of belongings and 795 euros in cash had been stolen from their property.
Delivery driver Marc Jenkins, 27, of Balgarthno Road, was locked up on Wednesday for 13 months after admitting theft by housebreaking at Dundee Sheriff Court.
The couple have received most of their possessions back, but the most important one of all Helen’s engagement ring passed down through Kenneth’s family is still missing.
Mrs Millar said: “It was an old ring, so it wasn’t worth thousands upon thousands, but it was left behind by Kenny’s auntie and it had come down his side of the family.
“It’s not so much the value money-wise, it’s the value it meant to me personally. The only reason I had it off my hand was because my finger was swollen.
“I’m desperate to get it back again. I’ve been round all the second-hand shops, jewellery shops, Gumtree, but no one has seen it.
“The only person who knows where it is, is him (Jenkins). I just want him to tell me where it is. If he’s sold it to someone, I won’t get them in trouble. I just want it back.”
The couple said they believed they were “safe as houses” living in their area and had no second thoughts about leaving their tiny bathroom window, which Jenkins managed to climb through in May, open by a couple of inches.
But because it was slightly ajar, their insurance company is refusing to pay up for the items and money lost, and the Millars want to warn others not to leave any windows open, no matter how hot a day it is.
Taxi driver Kenneth said: “Our insurance company said because it was not completely shut, they wouldn’t be paying out.
“Now I’d tell everyone to always make sure your windows are completely shut when you leave the house.”