A bold burglar said “sorry love” to his victim as he walked past her with his loot.

The thief ransacked a home in Beaufort Gardens, Braintree, between 11.30am and 2pm last Wednesday, stealing a haul of jewellery in a white bag.

He forced his way into the house by smashing the front door glass panel.

When he was still in the house, the homeowner, a woman aged in her 50s, arrived in the house through the front door.

He walked past her, carrying the bag filled with various items of jewellery, and said “sorry love”.

He left by the front door.

The housewife described him as white and bald.

Nobody else was in the house at the time.