Some guard dog

GUARD dog Shadow is in the doghouse. The eight-year-old German shepherd-collie cross was supposed to be protecting the Le Maitre family home at Les Eturs, Castel.

But burglars stole £2,500-worth of jewellery, electrical items and cash from right under her nose.

'The amazing thing is that they got past my guard dog to get into my house. She is not vicious, but an extremely good guard dog. She must have been barking like hell,' said 49-year-old Colin Le Maitre, a regular hill climb competitor.

'I never would have expected anyone to break into my house through my kitchen door with her there.'

But Mr Le Maitre, who runs his own body shop, has forgiven Shadow.

'She was shaken up as much as our three children.'

All the family were out at the time and he dreads to think what might have happened if any of them had been at home on Tuesday morning when it happened.

'It could have been a lot worse. We have all been left a bit scared and shocked.'

The haul included gold chains and necklaces, some of great sentimental value to the family, including a ring that belonged to the mother of his wife, Trish.

Police recovered some of the jewellery at the bottom of Cornet Street, near the Picquet House, on Thursday afternoon. Cash in sterling, euros and dollars was taken as was a Hewlett Packard laptop computer, Sony Cyber-shot digital camera, Bush DVD player and Oxbow and Reebok fashion bags.

The burglars ransacked the whole house, in which the family have lived for five years, going through all four bedrooms, opening drawers and pulling out bedside cabinets, as well as searching the lounge and kitchen.

'It's like being raped. Our privacy has been violated.

'I thought they would take much more - they did not take the TVs. I think they were looking for cash and small goods. It's desperate people, really.'

Detectives believe that some of the goods may have been stuffed into a distinctive Royal Life Saving Society bag, which was taken.

Police have warned islanders to be vigilant after the first significant domestic burglary of the year.

'We would encourage people to lock the doors to their houses,' said Detective Sergeant Andy Whitton.

'People need to take responsibility for their own security and make sure their property and vehicles are locked.'

* Anyone with information should phone CID on 725111 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.