HE is five feet of pure charm with a look that says butter would not melt in his mouth.

Old women cannot resist the schoolboy's winsome smile and polite request to have his errant football returned.

Many pensioners have ungrudgingly gone looking under garden plants and shrubs for the ball which they never find - because it does not exist.

Cleveland Police are putting a town's pensioners on their guard against the 14-year-old.

As soon as their backs are turned and they head off on a search of their back garden, the teenager dashes into his victim's house and pockets a purse or anything he can find of value.

His latest victim was a 74-year-old resident, in Middlesbrough's Tranmere Road. The tearaway stole her purse on what may have been his way home from school.

Police say a distinct pattern of walk-in-thefts is emerging across the town. PC Allen Evans said: "There have been incidents in Thorntree, Brambles Farm, Pallister Park and Berwick Hills.

"The boy, who has a local accent, is described as white, just 5ft tall, and was wearing a light-coloured top when he approached his latest victim, at about 3.20pm."

PC Evans said the thief always used the same tactic, picking on elderly people - usually females - and that the most notable feature was his politeness.

He said: "He wants stopping and anyone confronted by a boy like this should immediately report the incident."

Anyone with information is asked to telephone (01642) 303126.