Beloved family dog snatched and house ransacked in burglary in Courage Drive

Michelle Chen Cheung arrived home in Courage Drive on Monday evening and quickly realised something was wrong.

The back patio door had been smashed and, after looking around the house, she found all but one room upstairs had been turned upside down.

The family’s pet Chihuahua, Chelsea, had also been taken.

Mrs Cheung, who lives at home with her husband Van and eight- month-old son Ivan, said: “Our patio door had been smashed up, my little dog had gone.

“Her collar was gone as well so someone must have taken her, that’s when we realised something was wrong.”

She called 999 after discovering the full extent of the damage.

Her son’s room and the master bedroom had been ransacked. The burglars got away with the family’s safe. Jewellery and an Apple Mac Pro laptop were also stolen.

The mum-of-one said: “They also took some jewellery that my husband’s mum gave him before she passed away, as well as a Chanel watch my husband gave me, and some cash.

“I was in shock, I was shaking when I called the police. Every - thing was left messed up.”

14-month-old Chelsea is baby Ivan’s best friend.

Mrs Cheung said: “We used to have another Chihuahua a little while back but she passed away, and it took me a long time to get another dog because it hurt too much.

“When I was pregnant I thought it would be nice to get a dog so my little boy can grow up with her.

“Every morning he comes downstairs and you can see in his eyes, he is looking for her.”

She believes the trouble lies with how her home, which she has lived in for two years, has been designed. The burglars broke through the weak garage door, a fence door and then the patio door.

She added: “Normally burglars would not go through that much trouble unless they knew it was easy."

She is appealing for anyone with information to call the police.

Chelsea is white and beige and will respond if her name is called.

The burglary happened at about 8.20pm on July 24. Call 101 with information.