MORE than 20 York residents and their families have been subjected in the last week to the terrifying ordeal of being burgled while in bed, police figures reveal.

While some have been unaware of the intruder and have woken to find an open door and missing possessions, others have lay petrified in bed as their house is searched.

York police today urged victims to phone the police immediately rather than confront the burglars, but David Coughlin, who has been burgled twice in the last week while his family slept upstairs, said today he would tackle them if it happened again.

"When we were burgled last week we felt we had been a victim of crime but had got away with it quite lightly," he said.

"But now we have been hit again and, despite my placid nature, I feel I would have to do something and confront them."

Mr Coughlin said he could now understand the actions of Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer imprisoned for shooting and killing a burglar.

"We have been discussing Mr Martin in the light of our experiences this week, and I think he was justified in what he did," he said.

Mr Coughlin, of Grange Garth, York, was woken in the early hours of last Thursday by a noise downstairs. The intruder made off with a handbag containing £30.

The burglar - Mr Coughlin believes it was the same person - returned in the early hours of Monday morning and stole a wallet containing £80, after using a jemmy to prise open French doors.

North Yorkshire police's community safety officer, PC Jim Shanks, said personal safety should come first for those who find themselves in this situation, and advised against confronting the intruder.

"Is it worth putting your life at risk for a TV and video?" he said.

PC Shanks advised residents to have a phone by their bedside to use in the event of a burglary.

He said police would respond immediately if a burglar was still on the premises.

York Victim Support co-ordinator Tessa Denbeigh said people who had been burgled while at home were particularly traumatised by the experience.

"With any burglary, there's a feeling that your safe place has been violated, but when you come across them in the act you often worry for a long time afterwards about what could have happened - you never know the intruder's state of mind."

Victims of burglaries can get free security equipment, as well as support, from Victim Support. Contact 01904 636905.