A YOUNG family were devastated after burglars broke into their home and stole a laptop containing irreplaceable wedding, honeymoon and baby pictures. Karen and Phil Crighton, who celebrated their third anniversary in September, never had prints made of th

A YOUNG family were devastated after burglars broke into their home and stole a laptop containing irreplaceable wedding, honeymoon and baby pictures.

Karen and Phil Crighton, who celebrated their third anniversary in September, never had prints made of their precious memories, thinking the images would be safe on the computer.

But in the early hours of Wednesday last week, while the couple and their children slept upstairs, burglars ransacked their home, taking the laptop, a plasma TV, camera and Karen's purse.

"I don't care about the laptop or the TV," said former hairdresser Karen, now full-time mum to three children.

"I just want the photographs back. I know it's a long shot but perhaps one of the burglars has a conscience and would put the photos on a disc and send them anonymously to the POST or the police.''

Karen added: "There are so many memories I can never replace.

"I can never show my children pictures of them as babies or of their mum and dad's wedding. It's absolutely heartbreaking."

The raiders broke into the house in Gordon Road, Chadwell Heath, after smashing through the side gate.

Karen believes they struck between 2am, when ex-Ford worker Phil returned from picking up his father-in-law at the airport, and 7.30am, when her 20-month-old son, Daniel, woke up.

She said: "We have heard that there were three or four other break-ins in our road on that night.

"Whoever these thieves were, they knew what they were doing.

"They didn't leave any fingerprints and didn't wake a soul."

The family were also burgled eight months ago, but disturbed the intruders, who made off with an iPod and a video camera.

The experiences have left the couple shaken and concerned about the safety of their children.

Karen added: "These people don't realise what they put their victims through.

"We have never cared about possessions. But those photographs are irreplaceable.

"Just thinking I will never see them again makes me want to cry."

The laptop is a black, two-year-old Toshiba. The 37-inch Toshiba TV is also black.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Melanie Bennett on 0208 217 7735 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.