A 12-year-old boy narrowly escaped coming face-to-face with a burglar as three houses were burgled in Ruspidge over the weekend.

Mike Partridge and his family, who live on Ruspidge Road, were on their way out when their eldest son, James, decided to go out with his friend on Saturday afternoon (July 27).

Shortly after, he returned to the house to pick up some computer games unaware that his house had been broken into.

Mr Partridge said: "When I returned home, it didn't look like we had been burgled; it was only when I noticed my wife's ring on the kitchen floor that I was suspicious. When she went to put it back she had noticed that her jewellery box had been stolen and that my collection of model Harley Davidson motorbikes and Eddie Stobart lorries were also missing.

"The burglar must have whipped in and back out again as we weren't out for very long. I think it happened between 3pm and 3.45pm. I'm glad that James hadn't returned home sooner as it wouldn't bear thinking what could have happened."

A spokesman for Gloucestershire police said: "The offender entered the property where they stole diamond rings, a mobile phone and a collection of model Harley Davidson motorbikes and Eddie Stobart lorries."

Mr Partridge added: "I'm very angry as my wife, Ann, is upset that her nan's diamond ring has been taken – it holds a lot of sentimental value. It feels like somebody had watched us leave and swooped in."

A second incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning (July 28) between 4am and 11am on Ruspidge Road when the offender walked into a house and stole a wallet containing £20 and a bottle of Baileys liqueur.

The third incident also happened in the early of hours of Sunday morning between 4am and 8am. An iPhone from a bedroom cabinet was stolen.

A 46-year-old local man and a 39-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of burglary in connection with the incidents and are both on bail until October 3. The 46-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of nine burglaries in total.