A couple went from joy to despair after their car was stolen a week after becoming parents.

Nikki Saunders and George Barton, of Silks Way, Braintree, were shocked to discover the family car had been stolen from outside their flat just days after bringing home baby, Ruby.

It was the second time they had become victims of crime in ten weeks and they were left wondering how they would cope.

Then, miraculously, the car reappeared two days later near Market Place, Braintree.

In July £4,000 worth of tools were stolen from Mr Barton’s Ford Transit a week after he bought it.

Miss Saunders, 23, said: “George never leaves his tools inside the van, but he was doing a job over the weekend and the one night he kept the main tools in there someone took them.

“We think they probably used a master key because they unlocked it, rolled it forward and got into the back.

“All together they took about £4,000 of tools and he’s a carpenter so he uses good quality ones.

“He is our main source of income and couldn’t go to work the next day.

“He then had to borrow some tools from his dad.”

Mr Barton, 24, works as a self-employed carpenter and has still not been able to replace all his stolen tools.

His van was then broken into for a second time when it was parked directly underneath the couple’s bedroom window.

Miss Saunders said: “He’s hanging doors and can do it five times quicker with one of his tools, which is really expensive so he’s spending hours extra to do a job.

“He only bought the van a week before, it was second hand and he’s had to put new locks on it now.”

The couple then bought a second hand silver Renault Clio, which was stolen on September 9.

Miss Saunders has now begun to wonder if the pair are being targeted or are just unlucky.

She said: “We hadn’t even shared it on social media so no one knows we had it.

“I just still don’t understand how they got in.”

She had given up hope of finding it until the lucky discovery and is waiting to see if forensic tests unearth anything.

Speaking before it was recovered she said: “We gave police the descriptions of the car and the person who got into the van.

“Luckily our pram was not in the boot or her car seat. I hope they felt guilty when they see the baby on board sign.”

The couple have now set up a fundraising page to try and help cover their costs and replace Mr Barton’s stolen tools.

To donate visit gofundme.com/4esfb5s. Call police on 101.