Daughter's anger as £9,000 is stolen from war veteran's safe (From Watford Observer)

Daughter's anger as £9,000 is stolen from war veteran's safe

5:30pm Sunday 23rd September 2012 in News By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter

The daughter of a Second World War veteran has been left shocked and angry after her father had thousands of pounds and a childhood ring stolen in a burglary.

Susan Reynolds said she and her family had been plunged into a "nightmare" and her 89-year-old father’s health affected since the theft at the north Watford flat.

She also expressed her disgust at how her father Edward - known as Ern - had been treated after the service he had given his country.

Police said around £9,000 was taken from a safe the home between July 30 and August 2. No one has been arrested in connection with burglary.

Officers there were no signs of a break-in and the safe was left to look like it was undisturbed.

Two rings were also taken, a signet ring Ern had had since childhood and a diamond ring he was looking after for a grandchild.

Ms Reynolds, 59, of Hope Green, Leavesden, said her father had been saving the money up for his funeral the burglary had affected his health.

"He has got worse since the robbery," she said.

"He was very upset. I was going to take him to the Co-op to pay for his funeral.

"We are both angry and upset. He got very upset when the police came round.

"It keeps being on his mind all of the time, how they got in and how they did it.

"He always says he fought for this country, if it wasn’t for the likes of him we wouldn’t be around and look what he gets."

Ern was conscripted into the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regiment in 1942 and trained for the invasion of Normandy.

He landed on Gold Beach in Normandy on June 8 1944 and was transferred into Royal Welsh Fusiliers and saw action.

After the war he came back to Watford to work as a bricklayer.

Ern was originally born in Bethnal Green in the East End of London, but is dad relocated to the town after the outbreak of the war. 

The family are hoping that the someone will recognise the stolen objects and contact the police.

The gold signet ring is described square with the corners cut off and the notes taken from the house were old £50s.

Ms Reynolds police investigation had been very stressful on the family who had to have their fingerprints taken.

She said: "It has been a nightmare for me. My family had to have our fingerprints taken.

"I have had sleepless nights thinking who could have got into his flat."