A HASLEMERE family was left vulnerable and 'exposed' this week, after audacious thieves swiped their front gates for the second Christmas in a row.

Two large, solid-wood entrance gates, measuring six feet tall, were removed from the Courts Mount Road property on Tuesday morning, along with one half of the smaller exit double-gates.

The theft follows a similar incident last October 27 in which both of the family's exit gates were taken.

Sylvia Day, who lives with husband, Anthony, and their daughter told the Herald they now face a second winter without gates.

She said: "We can't believe it has happened again. It is so horrible.

"I was woken up at 5.50am on Tuesday morning by the sound of the gate banging around.

"At first I thought it must be blowing in the wind, but remembering the gate was stolen this time last year, I looked out the window and it was gone!

"I ran down the drive but was too late. I could just hear the thieves driving away."

The approximate value of all items stolen is £1,500, and Mr and Mrs Day are looking at a substantial insurance excess to replace the gates.

Mrs Day continued: "We're afraid that the thieves will come back to either take the other half of the exit gate, or to take the replacements next year.

"I keep hearing the noise of the gate banging in my head. We feel so exposed without them. How dare they!"

Coincidentally, Mr Day is also the bursar of the Royal School, which had a number of York stone paving slabs stolen in May, earlier this year.

Slabs were also taken from the war memorial in Witley, and from a number of private properties recently. Last week police issued a warning for the public to be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles and activities.

Police analysis shows burglary is generally higher between November and February, but this has not typically included a rise in thieves targeting building materials.

Inspector Simon Dann, of Surrey Police, said: "The theft of wooden gates is quite rare in Haslemere but the theft of paving slabs is becoming a real problem in Waverley because of the current market value of York paving.

"We would urge residents to remain vigilant, and to report sightings of any suspicious individuals or vehicles to police straight away.

"We would also like to speak to anyone who is offered second-hand garden furniture, gates and slabs, as they are obviously stolen to be sold on somewhere."

Following the recent theft of the gates, Mrs Day is also urging anyone offered a second-hand wooden gate to contact Surrey Police immediately.

She said although the gates can be lifted off their hinges, it would take at least three people to remove them due to their weight.

Mrs Day added: "At the opposite end of the spectrum, we greatly thank the neighbourly gentleman who came to our

door after the theft, to offer his condolences.

"It's nice to know there are still some good and kind people out there."

Anyone who saw a van containing three or more people in the Haslemere area early on Tuesday, or who has any information on the gate, can contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.