Relatives found an elderly woman still asleep unaware that thieves had activated her panic alarm when they stole it.
Police want to hear from anyone with information about a break-in at a house in Maldon between 3.45am and 4.15am on Wednesday October 8 when thieves forced the back door of the house, on a side street close to the junction of Colchester Road and Goldhanger Road.
Once inside they began removing Careline equipment installed so that the elderly householder could call for help if she was in trouble.
Detective Sergeant Ray Hull said: "The equipment activated due to its removal and a member of the family turned up to find that the lady was fortunately still asleep and unaware of the break in and the only thing taken was the Careline equipment.
"This is valued at around £1,000 and now needs to be replaced. If anyone saw any suspicious activity in the area at the time or has been offered similar items for sale I would ask them to contact me at Chelmsford CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
