A Prebbleton family has been left shaken after an intruder entered their home while they were inside, stole a handbag and keys, and drove off in a work ute.

The incident happened late Wednesday night in a quiet, secluded lane.

The ordeal began when an offender broke into the mother’s car, which was parked on Riccarton Avenue near Hagley Park, while she was at Christchurch Hospital with a sick family member.

On the same night, her family’s Prebbleton home was also broken into.

A man was captured on a neighbour’s security camera lurking outside the property for nearly an hour before entering through a ranch slider.

“My step dad was sitting on the couch watching TV in the same room but didn’t see or hear him because of a wall,” one of the occupants said.

Once inside the house, the man stole a handbag and keys from the dining room before running off.

About 20 minutes later, the woman returned home and discovered her partner’s work ute was missing.

That was when the family realised someone had been inside the house.

Police believe the same man rummaged through the woman’s car, stealing a Bluetooth speaker, before using her credit card to spend nearly $700 at a laundromat in Bryndwr and a BP service station in Fendalton.

The family said they had no connection to the man and were shocked by what happened in their usually quiet neighbourhood.

“It’s very unsettling knowing someone was inside while we were home,” she said.

The family were still trying to determine if the two incidents were linked.

A police spokeswoman said officers received a report of a burglary in Prebbleton, Selwyn District, shortly after midnight on 2 October.

A 42-year-old man is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court on 24 October charged with burglary.