Thieves smashed one of the building's windows to gain entry to the My Name Is Earl star's Sherman Oaks pad, but the alarm system was not triggered, and the assailants escaped with a laptop and jewellery worth an estimated $30,000 (£24,300), according to TMZ.com.

Sources claim officials at the security firm the alarm is linked to never received an alert to report suspicious activity to police, leading them to believe the system had not been turned on when Pressly and her family left the home.

The actress, who has yet to comment on the incident, allegedly discovered the break-in after returning from a night out.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives are currently investigating the case.

Pressly is the latest star to suffer a burglary - singer Alanis Morissette's L.A. home was targeted in February (17), while model Kendall Jenner had more than $200,000 (£162,000) worth of jewellery lifted at her mansion in the Hollywood Hills last week (ends17Mar17).

Kim Kardashian's model sister, who had to step out during a party, reportedly fired one of her security guards after the theft occurred on his watch.