POLICE are warning Preston residents to be on their guard for a bogus council workman who conned an elderly lady out of £105.

On Wednesday February 7, at 1.45pm, the man, who had a false identity card, gained entry into the home of a 68-year-old woman in Andrew Street, Preston.

After distracting the woman he stole her purse containing the money.

The man is described as white, in his 30s, 5ft 2ins, of average build with dark cropped hair and wearing a dark jacket, trousers, a fawn coloured crew neck pullover and of smart appearance, carrying a mobile telephone.

At 7pm on Wednesday, February 7, a thief walked into the Red Rose Wines off licence in Harewood Road, Preston, reached over the counter and grabbed four packets of cigarettes before running off.

He is described white, aged 17 to 18 years old, wearing a grey leather jacket with a hood over his head.

On Friday February 2, a black Lister diesel generator 5KVA serial number 114885 with EG-471 painted on the side and valued at £1,350, was stolen from Gleesons Compound, in Elizabeth Street, Preston.

At around 1am on Wednesday, February 7, a thief broke into a house in Threefields, Ingol, Preston, and stole cash and cigarettes before being disturbed by the occupant's dog.

He was described as white, 5ft 8ins, wearing black clothes and a black woollen hat.

At 2.45pm on Wednesday February 7, a youth smashed the back window of a car parked in Dodgson Road, Preston, after throwing a brick through it. He was accompanied by approximately five others.

The boy is described as white, approximately 14 years old, 5ft tall with dark medium length hair and wearing a white anorak. On Wednesday February 7, at 5.45pm, a man drove a dark blue vehicle, registration number similar to J101 UPD, into the Texaco Garage, in Garstang Road, Fulwood, filled it with petrol before driving off without paying.

He is described as an Asian male, aged 20 to 30, 5ft 11ins tall with short dark hair and wearing a blue Adidas coat with three white stripes.

Between Monday, January 29 and Monday, February 5, a burgundy Fleetwood Colchester 1850-05 caravan serial number SGFT000FLWC00273 worth £14,000 was stolen from a farm in Whalley Road, Samlesbury, after having locks cut off.

Overnight on Thursday, February 1, thieves broke into the LCC Surveyors compound, in Holme Road, Bamber Bridge, and stole more than £12,000 worth of computer equipment from an office.

Property stolen included a Pentium 2 computer coded SU29, a Liyama monitor coded SU3048, a Hewlett Packard Deskjet 610C printer coded SU3761 and other office equipment.

If you have any information about these crimes call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.