AN 89-year-old man was forced to climb a 30ft ladder in a bid to break into his own home after thieves stole his house keys from his car.

Ernest Shepherd said after waiting more than three hours for police to arrive to help him he decided to climb up to the upstairs window to get in.

After borrowing a ladder from a shop nearby, he propped it up against the front of the house and began the climb.

But, watched by his hysterical wife and her disabled sister, he couldn't gain access through a small window and came back down.

Today police apologised to the couple for keeping them waiting and finally turning up four days after the theft.

The drama unfolded after Ernest and his wife Mavis had spent an afternoon at Woolston beach where they had a picnic with Mavis's 76-year-old disabled sister who suffers from chronic arthritis.

The three had fallen asleep in their car but were awoken by a loud bang and the sight of thieves running from the vehicle.

Seconds later Mavis discovered her handbag, containing the keys to her Southampton home and other items including jewellery, had been stolen.

Mavis, 78, from Shirley, said: "We heard a bang and woke up and suddenly realised that my handbag had been taken from the floor of the back seat, through the window that had been left open slightly."

She said as well as losing her handbag, keys and purse, she also lost a hand-carved pink coral pendent set in gold with a diamond in the middle and on a long gold chain.

The Shepherds also lost a pair of black agate cufflinks, set in gold on a white background and their driving licenses.

Mavis said: "It's heartbreaking because those two items of jewellery Ernest and I had given each other years ago, and aside from their monetary value, they are irreplaceable to us emotionally."

But she added the real shock was the lack of help the police offered them.

She said: "The police gave us no help whatsoever after I reported the theft. They knew our house keys had been stolen, but it was left to my 89-year-old husband to try and break into our own flat.

"I came back to find him 30ft up a ladder and it was only when a neighbour offered to help us get in that Ernest agreed to come down.

"In the old days I believe the police would have helped us get in, or at least given us the name of a locksmith who could help.

"Since then the police have been good to us, but at the time they left us to sort things out on our own."

The couple eventually managed to get back into their house after another locksmith was found and he came and forced open the front door.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "We would like to apologise to this woman for providing a level of service that does not meet the high standards of Hampshire Constabulary.

"When she made her initial report an hour after the offence, there was some confusion about the precise location of the crime and the police area which should take ownership of the investigation.

"Once this was clarified, an officer was assigned to conduct an investigation in accordance with force procedures.

"This included the deployment of scenes of crime investigators, referral to victim support and contact with the Hampshire Bobby to change her door locks and make her property secure."