A WOMAN with learning difficulties was threatened by a man wielding a penknife as she walked from Birley Street Post Office, Preston.

The 41-year-old had just cashed her benefit cheque between 11.00am and 11.30am on Friday when the man tried to steal her hand bag.

He then produced a penknife and threatened to kill the woman if she did not hand over her bag. Fearing for her life, the woman took £30 from her purse and handed it to the robber who made off across the Flag Market and into Church Street.

The man is described as being white, 25 to 30 years old, 5ft 3ins tall, with short brown hair, a scruffy fair coloured moustache and wearing a brown jumper with black horizontal stripes.

A THIEF who claimed he was a painter and decorator looking for business was caught stealing from a house on Manchester Road, Preston.

The incident happened at about 1.00pm on Monday July 31 when the man went into the ground floor maisonette through the front door.

The female occupant, however, was unable to stop the thief from making off with a purse containing £30 and a disabled person's bus pass.

The man is described as being white, 40 years old, 6ft tall, with close-cropped hair, a round face and wearing a check lumberjack shirt and trousers with paint splashes on them. He spoke with a Liverpool accent.

A YOUNG woman walking her dog was viciously attacked and threatened by a man with a walking stick.

The incident happened around 6.30am on Wednesday August 2 as she took her dog for a morning walk through Grange Park, Ribbleton, Preston.

The assailant attacked the woman with his walking stick and threatened to kill her, saying that her dog had attacked him.

He is described as being white, aged about 60 years old, 5ft 11ins tall, with short grey hair and spectacles and wearing a green three-quarter length jacket with brown trousers.

A WOMAN was subjected to a terrifying ordeal when a man exposed himself.

The victim was walking along Fylde Street, Preston, at around 11.30am on Wednesday August 2 when the man gestured her to come over to him in his small red P-registered van. When the woman got to the van, the pervert exposed himself and performed an indecent act.

The man is described as being white, in his late 30's, with very short dark brown hair and wearing a white suit fastened up to the top.

A MAN walked into Max Speilmans on Orchard Street, Preston at around 12.20pm on Wednesday August 2 and stole a pack of five disposable cameras.

He is described as being white, about 5ft 10ins tall, slim build, very gaunt, with a thin face, a long nose, receding fair hair and wearing a navy blue outdoor waterproof coat.