Police are appealing for witnesses after two young burglars ransacked a house for nothing but a pouch of tobacco.

The young raiders were seen trying to break into a number of houses in Methersgate, Basildon, on Friday afternoon.

Police said one witness watched them try to open the back window of one home, then move on to the next-door neighbour's house, before finally breaking into a third property.

The first young man was described as white, slim, aged 16, 5ft 8ins, with short gingery to fair hair and wearing a blue top. The second youth was also slim, white, aged between 14 and 16, 5ft 6ins, with short medium length dark-brown hair. He wore a white a blue top with a zipped up front and a blue-and-white baseball cap.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Det Con Colin Norton at Basildon CID on 01268 532212.

Published Tuesday, April 15, 2003

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