A WOMAN was locked in a cupboard and her life threatened by a gang of masked men who burst into her isolated house before making off with cash, jewellery and a car.

The 50-year-old victim was alone in the property, on the outskirts of Low Etherley near Bishop Auckland, when three men entered through a rear door shortly after 10pm on Thursday.

The trio, armed with baseball bats and wearing balaclavas, threatened the victim, saying they would kill both her and her dog if she did not comply. They demanded to know where she kept her valuables and money, and the terrified victim handed over a purse containing a relatively small sum of cash.

They then locked her in a cupboard before searching the house, taking the keys to her Land Rover Freelander.

After some time the woman heard the men drive off and managed to escape from the cupboard and found her way to a nearby house to raise the alarm.

Last night, the silver Freelander, registration ND07 VLF, had not been found and police appealed for anyone who may have seen the car to get in touch.

Detective Inspector Simon Orton said it was not yet clear exactly what items were stolen from the house.

He said: “From comments made by the gang, it was clear they had personal knowledge of the premises and the occupant.

I have no doubt they deliberately targeted this house and that their threats were genuine.

“We have had crime scene investigators at the property searching for clues and I would urge anyone who was in the area on Thursday night to come forward if they saw or heard anything suspicious.”

Police investigations are ongoing into two similar aggravated burglaries in County Durham in which intruders entered properties and threatened the occupants.

The first was back in April, at the Roddymoor home of racehorse trainer Howard Johnson and his wife, Sue. The other happened last month at a large, detached bungalow on the outskirts of Fishburn.

Det Insp Orton said that while at this stage there was no firm evidence linking the three incidents, he was keeping an open mind.

Anyone with information is urged to contact CID on 0345- 60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111