POLICE have warned people to be on their guard after an unusual early morning distraction burglary.

At about 7.45am yesterday, a woman living in the Sunderland Road area of Horden, east Durham, answered a knock on her kitchen door and was confronted by a female in her 20s claiming she had run out of petrol.

The caller was invited into the kitchen of the bungalow and attempted to ring two numbers before the householder, who is in her late 40s, went to answer a knock at her front door.

There was no one at the door and when the victim went back into her home the caller had disappeared along with a purse containing a small amount of cash.

Detective Constable Dave Corner, of Peterlee CID, said the timing and circumstances of the offence were unusual and he stressed that local people, particularly the elderly, should be on their guard.

He believes the thief may have been working with someone else, as a car was heard being driven away.

The pale-faced caller was described as being in her early 20s of slim build and with bleached blonde hair.

She was wearing pale blue trousers, a white polo shirt, navy cardigan and black woollen gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to telephone Det Con Corner or Det Con Geoff Walls at Peterlee CID on 0191-586 2621 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.