A 72-YEAR-OLD woman confronted a young burglar when he woke her up at her home in Broadstairs early today. The pensioner was asleep upstairs in her house in Prince Charles Road when she was awoken by noises downstairs.

She got up to see what it was and heard a male voice say: “I’ve got what I want.” She then saw a boy, aged between 13 and 14, with her handbag. The boy ran out of the back door, and probably escaped down an alley behind the house.

The woman did not see or hear anyone else but police assume there was more than one person, as the boy had spoken during the break-in. He was white and about 5ft 8in tall. He was wearing a grey jacket and grey trousers.

The bag was later found in a nearby garden. The contents, including £20, a torch and a pension book were missing.