Kate Barrett with her sarcastic note to thieves who raided her Northampton home
Kate Barrett with her sarcastic note to thieves who raided her Northampton home

A burglary victim wrote a very unusual letter to thieves who ransacked her home, in which she thanked them for the crime.

Kate Barrett, 36, penned the note after coming home with her partner to find their possessions gone and their property damaged.

She posted the letter signed "lots of love" with kisses on a wooden board erected over the window of their Northampton home which was smashed during the raid.

It could go down as the one of the most sarcastic missives in years. If it was not deeply ironic, then how does the redoubtable householder sign letters when she's happy?

There was also a sting for the criminals as she revealed they left their fingerprints at the scene.

Press officer Barrett lambasted them for not taking a collection of old VHS tapes hoarded by her and boyfriend Dan Owens. 34.

She wrote: "Dear Burglars,

Thanks for popping by the other night and we're sorry we didn't have more for you to take.

As you now know, we don't have particularly expensive tastes so there's no need to come in again, unless you would like to take my collection of VHS videos and cassettes - Dan is very disappointed you didn't take these first time round.

If you would like them just knock on the front door and ask - no need to break another patio door as it's dreadfully hard work cleaning up all the glass.

Thanks for all the finger prints - we really appreciated those.

Lots of love

Kate and Dan xxx"

Recalling the traumatic discovery the couple made when they returned from a weekend away, Dan said: "I'd gone to my parents for the weekend while Kate went to London to watch the Strictly Come Dancing live show.

"She called and I came straight over and the place had been ransacked."

"The burglars had gone through every room but "there wasn't too much to take - some cash, a camera, an ipod, but nothing too major".

"I think they were planning to go out through front door with the telly, but luckily the spare key doesn't work.

"She's a big hoarder and has all these old tapes and videos from way back when and they are welcome to those."

Northamptonshire Police issued an appeal for witnesses to come forward.

IPod London