TWO Blackburn men asked an outgoing tenant for a key or to leave the premises insecure so they could steal the copper boiler and piping.

Blackburn magistrates heard the woman refused but the day after she moved out Lee Suddick and Alan West went in and were caught in the act by police alerted by a neighbour.

Suddick, 24, of Hereford Road, and West, 40, of Leicester Road, both Blackburn, admitted burglary at a house in Leicester Road.

They were both sentenced to 120 days in prison.

Sophie Lorimer, prosecuting, said the tenant knew both defendants and was approached by them the day before she moved. At the time of the raid she was still the official tenant.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said tshe had moved, leaving the house effectively unoccupied.