POLICE are hunting a bogus cosmetics salesman who tried to steal from a woman after she refused to buy make-up from him.

The thief approached the woman while she was tending her garden at Mowden Close, in Stockton, on Wednesday afternoon, and tried to sell her Virgin Vie cosmetics.

After declining his offer, she went to visit a neighbour, leaving her back door unlocked.

On returning a short while later, she found the man's canvas bag lying empty on her kitchen floor.

She heard a noise from upstairs, and saw him making off with jewellery.

The theft followed an incident on the previous night, when two men were seen in the area at about 7.30pm, posing as Virgin Vie salesmen.

The company does not sell its products door-to-door.

The thief is described as white, 5ft 9in, of medium build, aged about 20 with short mousy hair combed forward.

He was dressed in a dark blue sports top and jeans and had a clean complexion.

His cosmetics holdall was black and inscribed in gold with the letter v.

Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact DC Steve Young at Stockton CID on (01642) 302226.