A PRICELESS family ring passed down through generations has been stolen by thieves who ransacked a family’s home in a daylight raid this week.

Karen Murphy said the burglary in her family home in Banbury Road, Kidlington, felt like a ‘violation’ as she appealed to find her late mother’s jewellery.

The mother-of-two and husband Vinny are clearing up the mess left by thieves, believed to be two men, who turned over the house and stole items valued at more than £10,000 - including their 17-year-old son’s birthday money - between 8.40am and 3.30pm on Monday.

Along with the irreplaceable ring, which was stored in their 20-year-old daughter Emily’s jewellery box, other items including a £7,500 Rolex watch, Playstation 4, an iPod, other jewellery and hundreds of pounds in cash were snatched.

The Rolex - taken from the house - was only insured while being worn.

Mrs Murphy, a legal secretary, told the Oxford Mail she is still discovering other things which have been swiped, adding she felt ‘scared to leave’ her house and offered a reward for the items of ‘huge sentimental’ value to be returned.

She said: “It’s like a violation of all of us. It’s just awful.

“They went through absolutely everything. I have had to take time off work to clean up. I’m scared to leave.

“Stuff can be replaced, but the ring, it’s just worth a fortune, it’s sentimental. The Rolex is not something I wore everyday, it was a present from my dad.”

Mrs Murphy had reported the break in to the police, but said the burglars had covered their tracks.

Now the family are picking up the pieces and are making sure the property’s locks are changed and made more secure.

Mrs Murphy’s son, Ciaran, came home from School on Monday to find the house turned upside down.

She added: “He rang me from the house, he did not want to go upstairs because he though they might be upstairs.

“I was really upset for my son. He went next door until I came home.

“I’ve lost my Rolex watch. It’s gone with the receipt and the box - absolutely everything.

“My bedroom is horrendous. They have taken his [Ciaran’s] Playstation and have taken his black Liverpool wallet with his birthday money in which was about £200, and his provisional licence.

“My daughter’s two jewellery boxes that are mirrored, they are quite modern, and had my mother’s ring. It’s a little brown cameo ring.

“She kept it in there because I lost my mum six years ago. They have wrecked it [the house].”

Mrs Murphy and her family took to Facebook to appeal for anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area.

She added Emily, who attends Brighton University, saw two men acting suspicious after they knocked on the door more than six months ago.

Emily said the ring meant ‘the world’ to her.

The burglars are believed to have smashed through and got into the property through a small utility window after going through a side gate.

Mrs Murphy said another neighbour had said he saw two suspicious men in the area on Sunday.

Thames Valley Police said it was investigating the burglary and appealed for witnesses.

It is understood another property in Grovelands was also burgled on Monday.

Call 101 with information.