THE home of runaway schoolgirl Georgina Hutchinson has been plundered by thieves -- leaving her family devastated.

Thieves broke into the 14-year-old's family home as her mother was searching for her missing daughter.

They emptied drawers, ransacked cupboards and stole electrical equipment, CDs, videos and jewellery.

Ornaments were smashed and dropped in the street outside as the thieves fled from the scene.

And today, as police continued the hunt for the teenager -- missing for 18 days -- her tearful mother Barbara confessed: "This really was the last thing we needed on top of everything else."

Mrs Hutchinson, of Langdon Close, Heaton, has issued a "come home" plea to her daughter who she fears has runaway with her 19-year-old boyfriend.

She now wants to be rehoused by the council after the break-in -- the sixth at the home over the last six months.

The thieves broke into the house when Mrs Hutchinson was out searching for Georgina with her 15-year-old daughter, Christina. The thieves broke in through a rear ground floor window.

Neighbours spotted a gang of lads acting suspiciously outside and told them to go away. But Mrs Hutchinson believes they returned later and "trashed" her home.

She said she had been waiting for council workmen to repair the rear window after the last break-in and is now desperate to be re-homed. Mrs Hutchinson, aged 46, said: "I just don't know what to do. This really was the last thing we needed on top of everything else.

"We had only gone out earlier in the afternoon and came home to find our home turned upside down."

She added: "Everyone living around here knows what has happened with Georgina. The kids responsible for this must be totally heartless." Georgina, known as Georgie to her family, disappeared from home on March 13 and has not been seen since.

Her family and the police believe she is with her 19-year-old boyfriend Craig Sheehan.

Police have contacted forces around the country in the search for the missing schoolgirl, who is 5ft 2ins tall, of slim build with dark blue eyes and shoulder-length brown hair.

When she was last seen she was wearing a black trench coat, a black sleeveless top with a floral design baggy dark-blue Fila tracksuit bottoms with a light-blue stripe and purple and white Nike trainers.

Anyone who has seen her is asked to call Astley Bridge police on 0161-856-5761.