THIEVES stole house keys from a car parked in Poole on Tuesday – and then returned to burgle the property on Thursday.

The keys were taken from a car parked in Albert Road, Newtown sometime between 7.30pm and 11.20pm on July 2.

They had been left inside a purse which was stolen during the incident.

On July 4, burglars raided a home in the same road after 5.35pm. The homeowners returned to the property to find the burglars inside the address.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said: "It is believed that the offenders stole the key to this property when they broke into the owner's vehicle on the Tuesdday.

"The owners returned home and disturbed the offenders, who fled the property through the rear patio doors and into the garden."

Anyone with information about either of the incidents should contact police via dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting 55190102030.