BY DAY the mercury may be rising as the Fylde coast basks in the rays of a glorious Indian summer.

But police are warning householders to lock all doors and windows against nocturnal intruders despite the stifling temperatures after dark.

The note of caution follows two burglaries in the Lytham and Blackpool areas earlier this month where thieves entered the premises through insecure doors and windows.

In the first incident intruders escaped with around £388 after entering a house on Westby Street in Lytham through a set of unlocked French windows between 7pm and 12am on Tuesday, September 2.

A 76-year-old female pensioner became the second victim after thieves climbed through a partially opened window on the first floor of her house on Bloomfield Road at around 12am on Monday, September 8.

In both cases handbags were stolen containing an assortment of cash, credit cards and mobile phones.

A police spokesman said: "It is understandable that many people feel the need to ventilate their homes by keeping windows and doors open during warm nights.

"But opportunist thieves are, unfortunately, always vigilant for this type of thing and will see an open window or insecure door as an invitation to ransack your home while you sleep.

"Always close and securely lock any entry points to your home before you go to bed and keep handbags, wallets and other possession shut away from view.

"There are many cheap fans on the market nowadays and it would be better to invest in one of these to combat uncomfortable temperatures than give intruders an excuse to break into your home."

Anyone with information relating to these crimes should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or Blackpool Police on 01253 293933 quoting crime reference AL2300 (Westby Street) or AM6141 (Bloomfield Road).