A Bolton pensioner was thrown to the floor when she confronted a sneak thief in her own home.

The thug grabbed the 82-year-old by the shoulders before hurling her to the ground.

And in a separate attack in Bury a middle-aged woman was pushed into a wire fence before being robbed in a dimly-lit street.

The Bolton pensioner was attacked at her home in Red Bridge, Breightmet, at 11.45am on Thursday. The thief entered her home through an unlocked door but was discovered by the pensioner in the hallway.

The terrified pensioner was then attacked by the thug. She suffered bruising to her fingers.

The thief then went into the kitchen and stole a handbag, two purses, keys, a credit card and £75 in cash before he fled through the front door.

Detectives have released a description of the thug who is white, 15-17, 5ft 3ins tall, slim with a fine boned clean shaved face. He was wearing a blue baseball cap, navy blue anorak and navy blue trousers.

A 54-year-old woman was also attacked later the same day in Hawk Close, Bury. The thug ran up behind her as she was walking home. She was thrown against a wire fence before the thug ran off with her handbag which contained personal documents and £40 in cash.

The thief is described as white, in his early 20s, 5ft 10-6ft tall. He was wearing a grey bobble hat, blue nylon bomber jacket and a black scarf over his face.

Anyone with information about either Crime is asked to contact Crimestoppers detectives on the free phone number 0800 555 111. All calls will be treated in confidence.

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