TWO men in their 20s stole property from a 77-year-old woman after tricking her into leaving her house in Wheatholme Street, Rawtenstall, at 5pm on Monday.

One man knocked at the woman's door and said he had damaged the rear of her terrace home with his car.

When she left the house, an accomplice went in through the unlocked door and stole a navy purse, £31 cash, a bus pass and Boots Advantage card.

The second man ran off from the house when the householder returned.

Det Sgt Stuart Barlow said: "We seem to be getting an increase in these sort of offences and there seems to be more planning going into them.

"This happened in broad daylight and someone must have seen something. If someone comes to your door, make sure you lock up your house before you investigate what has been claimed."

Both men were white, one was 5ft 7ins tall, medium build, wearing a white baseball cap, dark blue jacket with red and white on the sleeves and dark trousers.

His accomplice was 5ft 8ins to 9ins, thin build, with thick black hair and wearing a dark jacket