Terrified pregnant woman gave birth after thieves broke into Edinburgh house and stole family car

A heavily pregnant woman, who suffered through a terrifying home invasion that caused her to go into labour, has spoken of the ordeal she suffered.

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Stefania Giudice, said the stress of the home invasion caused her to bleed and have contractions.

After being rushed to hospital the 31-year-old gave birth to her baby daughter, Giorgia, hours later.

Stefania Giudice's with baby daughter Giorgia who was born hours after the break-in.

The thieves broke into the Heritage Grange home through an unlocked door at the back of the house at 04:30 on Wednesday May 26.

As Ms Giudice and her husband Alberto Giudice, 33, slept upstairs the intruders stole Mr Giudice’s car keys and drove off.

The police found the car 40 minutes later in Straiton, Midlothian.

Speaking to BBC Scotland the mother-of-two said: “I'm a light sleeper since my 19-month-old son was born so when there was a sound like a chair moving across the floor downstairs it woke me up.

“Then all of a sudden I heard my husband's car engine firing into life and I knew straight away it was his car."

After hearing the disturbance Ms Giudice slid out of bed and watched from the window as the white Audi S5 was driven away.

She said: "I didn't want to go downstairs because I was so scared some of the thieves were still in the house.

"The police arrived after 10 minutes, there was about three or four police cars and they said they had many more out looking for our car.

"That's when the shock of it hit me and I felt a huge contraction so I went to the toilet and I saw I was bleeding.

"I didn't bleed when I was pregnant with my first child so I was very scared."

Ms Giudice went to hospital straight away where their baby daughter was born on the same day.

She continued: "I feel very scared still now that someone was in my house as I am home alone with two babies most of the time while my husband is at work.

"We have changed all the locks and we have had cameras fitted but I still don't feel safe."

After suffering through the terrifying ordeal Ms Giudice wants to raise awareness of the incident so people could be more vigilant to stay safe.

She said: "I want to tell people to hide their car keys as ours were hanging on a hook near the door and to check their doors are locked before they go to bed.

"I keep thinking what If I had been downstairs at the time, what would have happened? Luckily it was only a car that was taken and not one of us hurt.

"You never think this would happen to you but it has happened to me so I want everyone to be more aware that this can happen so they can take extra precautions."

The couple still do not have their car returned to them as the police are checking it for fingerprints.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Inquiries remain ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police."

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