AN ELDERLY woman has warned people to beware of allowing Neighbourhood Watch members to look after their home after she was burgled while on holiday.

The 74-year-old told the Standard that she had some of her most valued objects stolen by members of the Neighbourhood Watch that she allowed to look after her home.

The woman, who asked not to be named and is from near Cirencester, left the couple in charge of her house five years ago when she went on holiday.

When she returned she had no idea that her attic had been emptied of some of her oldest and most prized possessions.

It was only last January when she was looking for some of her things that she realised two bags of old money were missing, including a silver Dutch coin.

The worst losses, however, were those with sentimental value.

A box of family photographs, some dating back to the Second World War, a priceless Victoria punchbowl and a set of fine cups and saucers were all missing.

She is adamant that the two members of the Neighbourhood Watch were responsible for the thefts.

“I just want to know how someone could do this? I trusted them,” the woman said.

“As soon as I realised what had happened I had the locks changed and went to the police.”

The woman told the police that there was no other way her things could have been taken, but the police could not do anything without evidence.

The policeman did confront the accused man, but he firmly denied the claims, the woman said.

“But you would, wouldn’t you?” the woman said.

“I don’t know where to turn to now.”

The woman contacted the Standard after reading about a family who had hundreds of pounds worth of birthday presents stolen while on holiday.

She had this warning: “People need to be really careful about who they trust.”