Sophie Hinchliffe, the cleaning influencer known to millions as Mrs Hinch, has spoken of her devastation after burglars targeted her mother's Essex home and made off with precious jewellery that once belonged to her late father.
The 35-year-old, who boasts 4.8 million Instagram followers, expressed her fury and heartbreak over the break-in, which took place on Tuesday at the property in Maldon.
In an emotional statement posted to social media, she wrote: "She has already lost her husband and is trying to piece her life back together, and you chose to violate her home and rip away what little she had left of him."
The theft occurred whilst her grieving mother was out, with intruders entering the residence between 10am and 6pm.
Sophie Hinchliffe's Instagram post
|Among the items taken were rings that had belonged to her father, along with a gold cross and chain that held particular significance for her mother.
"My mum has always worn this as comfort through the toughest times, including my dad's funeral," Hinchliffe revealed to her followers.
The thieves also made off with her mother's engagement, wedding and eternity rings, which had been stored in the bedroom rather than worn.
Explaining why the rings were not on her mother's person, she said: "She simply wasn't wearing [them] but keeping them safe in her bedroom because they're too loose right now."
Mrs Hinch issued a plea to the thieves
|GETTY
The influencer shared photographs of the stolen rings with her followers, describing the items as irreplaceable and questioning how anyone could commit such a heartless act.
Hinchliffe branded the burglary "cruel, disgusting and cowardly," insisting the perpetrators "knew exactly what they were doing" when they targeted her mother's home.
"That jewellery may be worthless to you, but it is priceless to my mum," she stated, emphasising the sentimental rather than monetary value of the stolen possessions.
The social media star issued a direct appeal to those responsible, urging them to return the items either anonymously or by handing them in to authorities.
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The social media influencer penned a heartbreaking statement
|She made clear her determination to see the matter through, warning: "This area is being watched. This is being shared. And this will be pursued."
Hinchliffe added that she would "not drop" the case, acknowledging that recovering the jewellery was unlikely but vowing to exhaust every avenue.
Essex Police have confirmed they are investigating a burglary in the Keeble Park area of Maldon, which occurred between 11:30 and 18:30 GMT on Tuesday.
Acting Detective Inspector Dan Smith said: "This incident has had a significant impact on the victim and her family and that is not lost on us."
Mrs Hinch issued a heartbreaking plea
|He added: "We're working through a number of lines of inquiry to identify the people responsible."
Hinchliffe, who launched her Instagram account @mrshinchhome in March 2018, has since built a substantial business empire from her cleaning content.
According to Companies House filings, she achieved multi-millionaire status by 2024, with Company Check reporting her net worth in 2025 stands at approximately £4.8 million and total current assets valued at over £5 million.