TWO cars, worth £23,000, were stolen from the driveway of a Rogerstone house after thieves broke into the property and took the keys, the victim says.

The house on Taliesin Drive, was broken into after the residents went to bed on Tuesday night.

The only things taken from the house were the house owner's wallet, containing £30 cash and bank cards and the car keys for a 2006 convertible BMW, worth £18,000 and a 2002 Mercedes worth £5,000.

After waking at 8am, the owner- who did not want to be named- realised his back patio doors were slightly open.

He also found a window at the front had been forced open and there were feet marks under it. This led him to believe that the thieves had climbed in through the front window, found the keys and left through the back patio doors.

The house owner said: “Unusually for me, I slept right through and didn’t hear a thing. It looks like they were just after the cars. It’s a sign of the times when you can’t leave your car on your own drive.”

The homeowner called the incident “distressing” and said he didn’t want to be named as he has been burgled twice since 1992 and lives with his elderly mother.

He spent yesterday speaking to representatives of his insurance company and cancelling all his bank cards. He had checked accounts and didn’t believe any money had been taken from these.

He added: “A car was also stolen from a house just down the road recently."

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said the house occupiers were upstairs when the incident happened, between 11pm on Tuesday and 8.20am yesterday, and it was reported at 8.30am.

She said a wallet and keys to a black BMW convertible and blue Mercedes saloon were stolen.

The force is appealing for anyone with information to call 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.