A teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of burglary after he allegedly targeted a pensioner's home.

The woman in her 80s was awoken during the early hours of one morning to torchlight shining on the landing of her property in Southwall Road, Deal.

She called out and heard a person leave the house and later discovered a set of keys and a telephone missing.

Following inquiries, officers arrested a 17-year-old boy from Deal on suspicion of burglary on Monday, November 11.

He has since been released under investigation and the incident is said to have happened in April.

As part of Kent Police’s annual campaign against burglary, officers are reminding people to consider taking simple steps to reduce the risk of becoming victims of crime.

Their advice includes to keep doors and windows locked and in good repair and use laminated glass or security film on ground floor windows to make it less easy to break in.

Police also recommend putting away any bins or garden furniture which could be used to reach windows and keeping any valuables such as car keys and cash out of sight.

Lastly, they say people should consider installing security lights and CCTV.

To get the latest updates on ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal