THIEVES who walked into a Watchet home and stole a safe containing a hard-working family’s savings and Christmas and holiday money, are in for a shock.

Police experts say they probably won’t be able to open it.

Michael and Tracey Sheehan (pictured) discovered the 2ft high silver-coloured safe containing their savings of £1,385 was missing from their bedroom when they returned to their home in Courtlands Close after work on October 19.

Frustrated by the lack of progress in the case, they have now opened their own investigation.

They have put up posters in the town’s streets and shops offering a reward of up to £300 for any information leading to the return of the safe and conviction of the thieves. The rewards will be paid by Tracey’s father.

“This has always been a very friendly peaceful neighbourhood where we haven’t had to lock our doors, but all that’s changed now,” said Tracey, a support-worker for adults with challenging behaviour.

“I find it very hard to sleep at night knowing that someone must have been watching the house and checking on our movements and working out exactly when the place would be empty.

“In fact, that doesn’t happen very often. My husband, who’s a self-employed taxi-driver, and my teenage children Hayden and Megan are in and out all the time and sometimes the door is left unlocked. It certainly won’t be in future.”

She said that the bedroom safe, which was not bolted down, was used for their savings and cash from her husband’s business. It also contained a draft of Michael’s father’s will which was being prepared by solicitors.

“The police have told us that a safe of that type could be very difficult to open and we’re hoping that maybe it has been dumped somewhere. We are asking everyone we know to keep their eyes open.”

Tracey said that the theft was not discovered until nearly midnight when she returned from working a 12-hour day and her husband came home with the day’s takings and asked where the safe was.

“I flew out of bed and we searched the house and phoned the police. I didn’t sleep for the rest of the night and even the dog was upset. I think he knew that there had been strangers in the house.

“There are a lot of things that still worry me – very few people knew that we had a safe in the house, nothing else was stolen and a pile of wrapped Christmas presents wasn’t touched.

“I’ve also had a message on Facebook featuring a picture of £ signs and a message saying ‘I’m laughing at you’.

“The neighbours haven’t seen any strangers hanging around so does that mean it was someone we know?

“It’s all very worrying and upsetting and I just hope we get some information soon. If anyone has heard anything at all can they please let us know.”

Tracey and Michael can be contacted on 07810 544531, and the police on 101 quoting crime no 5215022737.