A BURGLAR stole keys and fled in a couple's car, but left a stack of valuables on the garden path.

The man was disturbed as he was gathering electrical equipment and cash at a house in Freshfield Road, Brighton, early yesterday morning.

Pat Fraser, 62, was woken while she was sleeping upstairs with her husband, Jack, 61.

She saw the thief from her bedroom window as he drove off in their N-reg Ford Escort.

Mrs Fraser said: "I feel defiled. My husband and I are honest and have worked hard all our lives for what we have - then we get kicked in the teeth.

"It's wicked...I told police I'd cut the thief's hands off so he wouldn't be able to do anything like this again."

The burglar broke in through a kitchen window and was gathering up a video, Sony stereo, Mrs Fraser's handbag and her husband's wallet, when she heard noises and woke.

Mr Fraser, a furniture maker, armed himself with his snooker cue and went downstairs.

Switching the landing light on alerted the thief and he fled to the car. He left behind the valuables but escaped with Mrs Fraser's watch.

Police today appealed for witnesses and asked anyone spotting the blue Escort hatchback, N465 DMD, to contact the crime management centre on 001273 606744.

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