A teacher has put out a desperate appeal to find her students’ coursework after her car was one of two burgled on Monday (14) and her bag and laptop stolen.

Herts Advertiser: The entrance to Nuffield HealthThe entrance to Nuffield Health (Image: Archant)

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous so not to worry her students, was at Nuffield Health Centre in Highfield Park Drive between 6-7pm when her car had its rear window smashed.

The thieves took her laptop and a grey, black and blue camouflage rucksack full of Year 12 coursework from the boot of her car.

She posted on Facebook: “Please can everyone keep an eye open for this bag I am sure they will dump it somewhere. My students have worked for hours on this work and someone has just destroyed their final grade.

“Please pass this message on. I really hope we can find these kids’ work. I really can’t tell them just before Christmas that it’s gone. Help.”

The teacher told the Herts Advertiser that much of the BTEC Sport work had been handwritten and 60 hours worth of marking had already gone into it.

She added: “The response so far has been overwhelming. It’s my first experience of Facebook and people’s responses have brought me to tears, I’m even welling up now just thinking about it. It’s just wow.

“The post has been shared everywhere and I can’t thank everyone enough but please keep looking. The bag has got to be out there somewhere we’ve just got to find it because there’s no way they would want a bag of paperwork.”

She continued: “What’s more is that my schoolbag was in the car and they missed it. It had my purse and school keys in it so they took the wrong bag! They must have literally just broken the window grabbed whatever and gone.

“I don’t care about the laptop I just want the work back.”

Another car, a black Mercedes C330, was also targeted between 6-6.45pm that evening

The car had the rear back window smashed and an Acer Switch 10 laptop, laptop bag, a Samsung S3 and a black coat were taken.

Notices warning members about the thefts have been put up around the club, and a spokesperson from Nuffield responded: “Unfortunately there was a theft from a car in our car park. Following similar incidents across the county police presence has been increased in the area. We would encourage members to ensure that their cars are locked and no valuables are left on show.”

If anyone has any information about the incidents or finds the lost coursework, call Herts Police on the non-emergency number 101.