A THIEF let into a family’s home by their cleaner made off with goods worth almost £5,000 including jewellery which had belonged to the owner’s late mother, a court heard.

Daniel Cumbo and his accomplices raided rooms at the house in Junction Road, Lostock, spending several minutes ransacking the property.

Police were alerted when members of the public spotted three men and a woman running from the house.

“Bags were in their hands and officers arrived at the address shortly afterwards,” Julian Goode, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court.

The side door was unlocked and householders Andrew and Rebecca Kay found possessions, worth £4,774,64 had been taken.

“Mr Kay informed officers that their cleaner, who they employ, was due to have cleaned the address on that occasion,” said Mr Goode.

CCTV footage from the property revealed the cleaner arriving at the house at 10.06am carrying a large yellow bag and handbag.

“The footage then showed three unknown males walking onto the driveway and entering the property via the side door at 12.52,” said Mr Goode.

The cleaner left the house 15 minutes later. “As she left the property she can be seen on camera looking back through the door and talking to whoever was still inside the address,” said Mr Goode.

The door was locked after her and the three men, with another woman who also arrived at the house, left carrying bags a minute later.

Unlike his accomplices Cumbo, aged 38, of no fixed address, was not wearing a face covering and so was identified by police and arrested.

At the time he was on licence after serving a prison sentence for robbery and arson.

The court heard that the Kays been affected by the crime, including their two daughters , who now have difficulty sleeping.

Mrs Kay had hoped to give the jewellery left to her by her mum to the girls.

"It is now hard to think it is now in the hands of people who won't care about it and will just throw it away," she stated.

Robert Kearney, defending stressed that the burglary was not professionally organised.

"It was a chance opportunity afforded by a trusted cleaner," he added.

Cumbo pleaded guilty to burglary.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh, sentenced Cumbo to 27 months in prison.

"It is quite clear that these premises were deliberately targeted," he said.