A BOTCHED burglary in one of the wealthiest parts of the borough has left a mum of two terrified in her own home.
Amanda Kinghorn, 34, had only been away from her three bedroom house in Brindles Close, Hutton, for around 20 minutes when she came home to find her French patio doors to the rear of the property had been smashed.
Fortunately for her, the raiders could not gain access to her property and left empty-handed.
A police investigation is now under way although Mrs Kinghorn remains unsettled following the incident, which took place at around 9.50am last Tuesdayon April 16.
It happened as figures from Essex Police show that there have been 34 reported or attempted burglaries in the first three months of 2013 in Hutton and Shenfield – compared to 10 in the same period last year, an increase of 240 per cent.
Mrs Kinghorn, mum to Caleb, three and Kessiah, one, said: "I'd already left the house once to drop my kids off with my mum but I went back because I had forgotten a security gate to stop them climbing up her stairs.
"I heard glass dropping when I walked in the front door and the glass from the French doors at the back of the house was shattered.
"It was terrifying to be honest as I'd just left the house with my kids 20 minutes beforehand."
Mrs Kinghorn said she had been told that there had been a spate of burglaries in the area by a police officer.
She added: "I just feel a bit wary; it's a bit unsettling."
Chief Insp Ed Wells, district commander for Brentwood and Epping, said: "There has been an increase in the number of house burglaries in the Hutton area.
"With summer on the way we are reminding people to be cautious of leaving their windows open when they are not at home.
"Many burglars try to break in through the back of the house, so it is important back doors and side entrances are secured."
The police and crime commissioner for Essex, Nick Alston, said: "Essex Police is running specialist operations to target burglars. I will continue to encourage the force to catch them."
Anyone with information should contact Essex Police on 101.
