A BURGLAR is targeting houses in the Mill Hill and Livesey districts of Blackburn and police say residents can easily stop him just by locking their doors.

The man has been prowling the area over the last few days between 3 and 7am and passing along Livesey Branch Road, Heys Lane and Albion Street, trying doors until he finds one that is unlocked. He then sneaks in and steals items such as mobile phones, handbags, wallets and jewellery while the householder sleeps upstairs. Over the past few days this has happened four times.

DS Gary Dunnagan said: "We are concerned that someone is going around at night trying people's doors and going in and helping themselves to easily transported goods.

"The offender is believed to be a white male, but we have no other description. He has been trying the door handles on houses, garages and sheds. We are not trying to scare people, it is simple crime prevention advice -- if you lock the door he can't get in."

Anyone with information about the burglar is asked to call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or the CID office on 01254 353569.