A WOMAN in her eighties had her purse stolen in a distraction burglary in Headington on Friday. 

At around 10am she answered her front door to a man who said he was her next door neighbour’s gardener.

He asked for a pen and paper to leave a message for the neighbour, which the woman had to leave the room to get. 

After the man left, the woman noticed her purse was missing from her handbag containing various cards and cash.

The man was white, in his forties, between 5ft 5ins and 5ft 6ins tall, with short dark hair and an English accent.

If you have any information contact PC Holly Wood from Local Area CID Oxford, via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.