by Sam Lennon
slennon@thekmgroup.co.uk

A family's Christmas has been written off after thousands of pounds worth of presents and property was stolen by burglars.
Cas Gosbee and her family had been out celebrating her daughter Cathy’s 19th birthday when thieves struck at their home in Highfield Lane, Mersham.
Among items stolen were a laptop containing the school work of her son William, 14, who has special needs. They family now has a guard dog in case the burglars return.
Mum-of-four Ms Gosbee, 47, said: “I just wish they could see the state William is in now. He is devastated. I hope they grow up and have a family and this happens to them, so they know what it’s like. We are not going to have a Christmas at all now.”
The raiders struck between 6pm and 10.30pm on Saturday, December 12, when the family were out celebrating at the French Connection restaurant at Ashford’s Orbital Park.
Presents worth £1,500 were stolen from under the Christmas tree including a new laptop, a sat nav and a Nintendo Wii games console.
Other items taken included the laptop William uses for his work at Highview School in Folkestone, Ms Gosbee’s works laptop for a care home in Dover district, a TV and DVDs.
The burglars got in by breaking through a rear door and then broke down two doors inside the property, including Cathy’s bedroom door.
Ms Gosbee said: “You can’t imagine what it’s like being burgled. It’s not just an invasion of your home. Now we find it hard to sleep in our own homes and we don’t feel safe.
“If the thieves are reading this I would ask them to at least bring back William’s computer because all his work is on it.
“We now have a dog because burglars tend to come back once stolen items are replaced.”
The raid has left the family totally out of pocket because their home contents insurance expired at the end of November despite continued payments by direct debit.
The family said this is because renewal documents had been sent to their previous address, adding that the burglars took Ms
Gosbee’s car keys but not the car. Ms Gosbee said: “The locksmith came at 5am next morning and we discovered there was a prowler outside and had to call the police again. The police now think the thieves were coming back to take the car.”
Police are investigating.