AN HOUR was all it took for a thief to allegedly swipe a $50,000 loot from Dan and Shirley Pillar's Warwick home but the sentimentality of the goods means even more than their financial value.

About 140 precious gems were among the items reported to have been taken, including 30 rare sapphires that Mr Pillar had excavated from a mine, cut and polished himself over five decades.

The hard work that went into collecting the gems and their personal significance has prompted the couple to offer a $1000 reward to anyone who provides information resulting in their return.

Now almost two months after the alleged burglary, police are continuing the investigate the incident.

Mr and Mrs Pillar locked the door when they left the Locke St home about noon on November 31 to make a quick trip to the library and supermarket.

But when they returned, they say they found the door had been bolted from the inside.

They used a spare key to open the door and moved inside.

"I looked in and screamed...all the draws, everything was open and tipped out,” Mrs Pillar said.

Mr Pillar, 85, ran straight to his safe where his gems and some cash had been kept, to his devastation he says he saw the locks had been smashed.

A coin collection, two smartphones, cash and a distinctive pocket knife were also allegedly taken from around the home.

Mrs Pillar, 80, said the thief had first gone to the shed and found a metal handle to smash through the kitchen window.

They allegedly moved through each room of the house, smashing locks, opening draws and rifling through cupboards.

"You feel like the home has been contaminated, we love our home and I just kept thinking your filthy hands have been in here,” Mrs Pillar said.

"It's the contamination of a thief.”

Mr Pillar said the sapphires were the items they were most eager to see returned as so much hard work had gone into gathering the collection.

"It's all my own work, I found them and cut them,” he said.

"You see a rock in the rough and it's a nice feeling to turn it into something.

"They're very hard to come by, it's taken me that long (50 years) to get all the colours.”

Mrs Pillar said her husband loved the prize gems as they weren't just run-of-the-mill jewels.

While Mr Pillar said he had become a little worried about safety in the wake of the alleged incident, Mrs Pillar said she felt secure but was on high alert.

"I feel quite safe but I'm very aware and looking everywhere I'm going,” she said.

The pair, who moved to Warwick from Glen Innes more than a decade ago, hopes a reward will encourage anyone with information about their sapphires to come forward.

"I thought someone might want to make some money,” Mr Pillar said.

Warwick Police are conducting an investigation into the burglary and have released an image of a man they believe may be able to help with their investigations.

Anyone with information can share it anonymously by phoning Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or phone Warwick Police on 4660 4444.