A THIEF smashed through a patio door at a Wrexham house before making off with a car.

The burglary took place on Ffordd Llwelyn in Little Acton on Friday, November 15, at about 6pm, police said.

The incident saw a thief gain access to the property by smashing through its patio doors, taking a set of house keys and the keys to a red Seat Ibiza, which was stolen shortly after.

An occupant of the house, wishing to remain anonymous, was upstairs at the time of the burglary.

She told Leader: "I was doing some cleaning upstairs after my husband had literally just set off for work.

The Leader:

"I heard what sounded like the letter box rustling, which I presumed to be someone posting some junk mail or something.

"But then I heard a light go on, so I shouted down to see if it was one of my daughters.

"I then heard a scramble so I rushed downstairs to see a man wearing a black hoody climbing back through the smashed patio door.

"One of the drawers we keep keys in was opened so I knew they'd got the keys to my car - there was another car waiting which followed my daughter's car."

And the resident has said her daughter cannot complete her medical placement as she has no means of transport.

They added: "My daughter's a trainee nurse at Glyndwr University but is on placement so is in different places all the time.

"But she's absolutely devastated that she can't do it now - that car was her life really."

The same family suffered a burglary a decade ago, which left them 'traumatised' - and the resident said the latest incident has done so again.

A North Wales Police spokesman said: "We were called at 6.30pm on November 15 to a burglary at a property on Ffordd Llwelyn, Little Acton.

"The intruder smashed the patio front door to gain access - taking house keys and car keys, before stealing a red Seat Ibiza.

"Crime scene investigation teams have attended the property.

"Anyone with information relating to this incident can call 101 quoting reference number X166050."