"I was only out for about half an hour. It was just awful," she said. "I didn't know if they were still in the house. I ran to the neighbour's house but no one was home. I was screaming, 'Help, help, help, I've been robbed'. I was just screaming and screaming.
"They had upended everything in the bedrooms and all of my jewellery was gone. All I have left is my engagement ring and another ring that I put on that morning. Everything is gone."
The jewellery, including a diamond tennis bracelet, another gold and diamond bracelet and rare pieces containing emeralds and tanzanite, were stolen from a locked cupboard.
Designer earrings and belts from Versace and Chanel were also taken.
"They [the thieves] may think this just comes easy to some people, but it doesn't. They don't know what we've had to go through to be able to have things like this," she said.
"It's horrible to think they have been through my bedroom and everything."
Auckland police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said the burglary was a timely reminder to people to secure their properties as much as possible - even when they were at home.
"Opportunist thieves or recidivist burglars target properties where access is perhaps made easier for them."
Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.
SAFETY TIPS
* Lock front doors and windows while at the back of the house.
* Let trusted neighbours know of your holidays.
* Keep photos of personal belongings in a secure place.
* Record serial numbers of electronic equipment.
