A SENIOR nurse is distraught after a gang of burglars raided her home and stole her car while she slept.

Up to a dozen men were lurking around Colchester’s Solus Estate committing a spate of crimes in the early hours of the morning.

The most serious involved burgling the home of the nurse who cares for patients at Colchester General Hospital and is now struggling to get to work.

The victim, who the Gazette has agreed not to name, said: “When I came down the stairs the door was slightly ajar which I thought was odd and pushed it shut.

“It did not dawn on me what had happened until I went to go to work and the car was not there and I did not have the keys.”

It took place at about 2.15am on Wednesday morning in John Hammond Close.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “The keys to a blue Vauxhall Astra convertible were taken from a handbag and the car was stolen.

“The other contents of the bag were left discarded in the road.”

The victim explained: “I looked in the street and saw my handbag at the end of the road.

“I think they just wanted a vehicle but mine is an 07 plate and it is not in pristine order.

“They have been in my house. Anxiety is the overwhelming thing.

“I feel completely vulnerable in my own home now.

“They are scumbags. It upsets me there are people out there that think they can take things from people who work hard.

“My husband and I have worked hard for a long time to own things and they just take them.”

The victim is now having to pay £25-a-day for taxis to and from the hospital or rely on lifts to get to work so she can continue to care for patients.

CCTV has been collected from William Harris Way and there have been reports of other incidents.

Dave Harris, borough councillor for Berechurch, said: “There were a lot of break-ins and attempted break ins.

“There were about ten or 12 people wandering around the estate.”

He has contacted Chief Insp Elliott Judge, district commander for Colchester, and spoken to residents to try and stop something similar happening again.

This includes strengthening any Neighbourhood Watch opportunities or getting more police patrols.

He added: “We don’t want people to target the estate. It needs to stop."

Anyone with information call Colchester CID on 101.