Thieves stole a handbag from a room at a Paget guest house in the early morning hours – while its owner slept inside.

The visitors, a married couple, said they were woken by a loud noise inside the accommodation at approximately 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

When the husband went to investigate, he discovered someone had broken in, and removed a large, black handbag belonging to his wife. The handbag contained a quantity of cash and personal items. It was subsequently recovered with the cash inside but the personal items missing.

• Police were also notified that a flat screen television was stolen from a Spice Hill Road, Warwick residence later that day.

According to the complainant a thief broke into the home while it was unoccupied, sometime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The culprit made off with a silver flat screen TV measuring between 40-50in.

Inquiries into both incidents are underway.