A 75-YEAR-old man had his wallet stolen after a burglar duped him into believing he was working on a neighbour's house.

The thief said he was working next door and he needed to move a ladder round to the back of the victim's house.

He was invited into the pensioner's home in Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, at 1pm on Monday, and the two of them spoke in the kitchen.

The owner then went outside to open the gate to allow the burglar in. When he returned the man had gone and the pensioner discovered his wallet and some papers were missing.

He later saw the man walking towards the M42 Forest Island roundabout. Police believe he have been driving a blue Ford Transit-type van.

"I'd like to hear from anyone in the area who may have had a strange caller to their house," said Det Con Brian Davies, of Redditch police.

The offender is described as white, aged around 25, about 5ft 10in to 6ft tall and of slim build.

He had short tidy brownish-coloured hair and was wearing something similar to a blue overall, which may have had letters on the breast pocket.

Anyone who knows anything about the incident should call Bromsgrove police on 01527 584888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.