A family has been left “devastated” after their home was broken into for the fifth time in two years.

Thieves broke into Nikki Emson’s rented house in Yardley, Letchworth GC, at some point between 5pm on Friday and 11.30am on Saturday, stealing items worth more than £2,000 including a PS4 games console, her 14-year-old’s savings, Christmas presents and even chocolate.

Miss Emson, 31, was at her sister Jade’s house babysitting for her autistic daughter when the burglary occurred, with thieves breaking a window in the back garden to gain access.

To make matters worse, on informing her landlord North Hertfordshire Homes (NHH), Miss Emson was told she would have to pay £100 for a replacement window.

The mum-of-three said: “I am just devastated that once again my home has been broken into. All the kids’ stuff that we have spent the last year replacing since the last break-in has been stolen again.

“For someone to just come in and steal it all is just heartbreaking. All my kids’ Christmas and birthday presents and money has been stolen.

“NHH refuses to help me move and are now even trying to charge me for the window the thieves broke. My kids are now scared to sleep in their own hose and are begging me to move.”

Kevin Thompson, chief executive at NHH, said: “The break-in is an unfortunate incident, however since April 1 2013, glazing has been the responsibility of the tenant regardless of how it came to be broken.

“We are aware that the tenant is understandably upset about the break-in and our neighbourhood officer met with them on Monday to provide appropriate advice. Our anti-social behaviour team has also been made aware of the situation.”

A spokesman for NHH added that residents can be moved in extreme circumstances but it not an “automatic response”.

Police are investigating the burglary, and anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, citing crime reference G2/14/288.

Jade Emson, Miss Emson’s sister, has set up a Facebook group to try and catch the offenders on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-us-catch-a-theif/455627037872808?notif_t=page_new_likes