Police are warning Exeter residents to be on the alert after a burglar got into a house by claiming his football was in the occupant's back garden.
The householder, a woman in her 80s, went to unlock her back gate and the man went into the house and up the stairs.
She bravely shouted at him and he left empty-handed.
It happened at a house in Mincinglake Road and police think he may strike again - he was in his 30s wearing a black woollen hat.
Second man dies in heroin emergency
Major incident declared on Saturday
Communication needs to improve over accommodation for asylum seekers
Council wants to put support system in place
One dead, four injured in A38 crash
Road closed for nine hours
Developer apologises after objections to Bideford footpath
Plan to take out woodland withdrawn
Devon ‘significantly worse’ on range of health and social metrics
Figures below national average
Plan to protect rare petalwort on Dawlish Warren steps up
The strategy to protect it is viewed as highly important.
