POLICE officers are warning the public to be on the lookout for stone thieves.

They are urging local residents to be on their guard for anybody seen removing stones from private property or building sites and to make a note of their vehicle registration number.

Their plea comes after unscrupulous criminals targeted a vulnerable couple in Manchester Road, Slaithwaite, on Saturday night.

The woman occupant of the Victorian house, who is disabled and recovering from cancer, was alone in the house at the time. Between 10.30pm and 11pm on Saturday, she heard voices and loud noises from the garden, but was afraid to go out.

In the morning she and her husband, who are both retired, discovered that thieves had stolen some 50 yards of old topping stones from the top of their walls.

The stones were worth around £1,000. The woman, who does not want to be named, said: “I feel sick and so upset about this.

“I don’t know if these thieves realise we can’t claim on the insurance. It leaves us feeling incredibly vulnerable and we are very, very upset”.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said that the current high value of stone was probably the motivation behind the theft.

He said: “If you see someone, usually late at night or early in the morning, irrespective of marks on their clothes or van, pulling up stones, then please make a note of the vehicle registration and report it to us.

“Officers on patrol in the neighbourhood are keeping a keen eye out for those responsible, but we need the public to be our eyes and ears and report any suspicious activity.”

Anyone with information should ring the police on 0845 6060 606.