AN elderly deaf woman is recovering after a cruel thief sneaked into her home and stole a necklace given to her by her daughter who died of cancer.

Edith Savage, who lives on the Broadfield estate in Leyland, says she was tricked into believing the 'smartly dressed' thief was a neighbour after arriving home from shopping on Tuesday, January 22.

She was interrupted by the man while unpacking groceries.

The 86-year-old chatted to the man, who she thought was an innocent stranger looking out for her, before he left her home at around 4pm.

It was only after he left Edith realised precious jewellery were missing from her bedroom including the necklace bought by her late daughter to celebrate the pensioner's Silver Wedding anniversary.

Former Leyland Motors canteen worker Edith, who has lived in the town all her life, said: "I feel in shock. It shakes you up, when you're not young."

It is believed the thief got in through an unlocked door which Edith often left open in case friends and relatives visited.

Her son, Colin Hindle, from nearby Haig Avenue, said: "She is deaf, so you can easily sneak up on her."

Edith, who has six grandchildren and six great grandchildren, said: "The necklace Kathleen gave me was very sentimental. You can't replace something like that."

Daughter-in-law Norma added: "She hadn't got much and what has been taken was all she had of her daughter.

"She was very close to Kath and buys flowers every week to put on her grave."

Edith is also missing two bracelets from her grandmother, a ring given to her by her mother, and personal papers.

The shocking burglary comes as police in Leyland, Bamber Bridge and Penwortham launch a new initiative to cut burglaries in the area.

But now detectives have revealed they are also investigating a similar case in nearby Gorsewood, off Broadfield Drive, that happened around the same time. They have not ruled out the possibility of the two cases being linked.

In each case the intruder was wearing a dark blue jacket and light coloured trousers.

He had dark hair, was around 5ft 4/5ins tall. In the Gorsewood case the man had a slight Liverpudlian accent.

He could be between 15 and 25 years old.

DC Tony Wilson of Leyland CID said: "We're warning the public, especially the elderly, to keep their doors locked. If people see something suspicious, please call us out even if they think it is nothing, let us be the judge of that. We need all the help we can get to catch the person or persons responsible for these types of crimes."

If you think you may have information call DC Wilson on 209846."