A BRAVE four-year-old chased a brazen burglar down the street yesterday (Monday, June 29) morning after she claimed she was taking away his TV for repairs.

In the early hours of yesterday morning, a woman clambered through the window of a Middlesbrough house, disturbing four-year-old Travis Ryan, but not his sleeping parents.

When little Travis bravely confronted the intruder, she told him she was taking the family television to be fixed.

She then stole the television and fled the house, using the family’s keys to escape via the front door, leaving it wide open behind her.

The Northern Echo:
BRAVE: Travis Ryan, 4, and his brothers, Salem, 3, and Alexander, 1

Travis pursued her along Clive Road before returning home and telling his big brother Brodie what had happened.

Last night, his mother Toni Johnson hit out at the cocky conwoman for putting her son in danger and leaving her four children - Travis, eight-year-old Brodie, three-year-old Salem and one-year-old Alexander - feeling insecure.

The 27-year-old said: “I woke up about 5.15am and heard Travis telling his brother that a lady had taken the TV.

“It looks as though she climbed on a bin and got in through the window before letting herself out through the front door, letting my son run out into the street after her.

“Travis went out wearing just his pyjamas and chased her to the end of the street – she put him in danger.

"My three-year-old was going to go too but he didn't want to leave the baby.

“I’m absolutely fuming at the fact she had the audacity to continue pinching something when there was a child there.

“He’s been blaming himself but she was the adult – he believed her at first but then must have questioned it and went out after her.

“I’m so proud of Travis but I’ve told him if this ever happens again, he is not to go out.”

She added: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, it’s like a bad dream or something from a film.

“I’ve had to keep the children off school as they are all a bit shaken – this has made us all feel unsafe and anxious, it’s created a whole world of worry.”

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said enquiries were ongoing and appealed for anyone with information about the theft to contact them on non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The incident happened at about 5am at a property on Clive Road in Middlesbrough.

The intruder had dark skin and hair and wore purple trousers, a bright top and a headband.