THE home of a disabled pensioner has been raided for the third time in four months by jewel thieves.

Vera Wightman, 79, who lives with her jeweller son Jeremy, 45, in Whalley, was burgled on Thursday afternoon.

Intruders pulled back metal bars put up to protect her bung-alow, removed a window and then kicked in a new kitchen door to access her bedroom.

They stole a gold bangle and jade earrings worth around £500 – the only items left in her collection following two previous incidents.

Mrs Wightman said: “I sit in the car for five minutes now while Jeremy opens the car door and goes in the house.

“I only get out of the car if it’s all clear. I've lived here 25 years, it's terrible.

“My daughter wants me to go down to live with her in Nottingham, but it's a big upheaval.

“Why should I have to leave my home and friends?”

Mrs Wightman and her son, who runs Gem Service Jewellers in Moor Lane, Clitheroe, were ambushed by a man outside their home during a previous organised robbery on July 1.

The thieves escaped with £800 in cash, plus a laptop, a Sony PSP and a handbag.

Burglars first broke into their home on May 25. They made off with around £5,000 in cash, a video camera, a handbag and Mrs Wightman's jewellery.

Speaking about the latest incident she said: “It must be the same people.

“And they must be simple if you ask me, if they think I have any-thing else left.

“I’d only just bought myself the bangle and the earrings. Anything valuable is in the shop.”

She has again offered a £1,000 reward to anybody who can provide information that leads to a prosecution.

Detective Constable Will Biggar said: “We have been looking into people based on anonymous information, which restricts us in what action we can take.

“The bottom line is we need information we can act on.”

If you have any information contact DC Biggar at Clitheroe Police Station on 01200 458734.