A WHEELCHAIR-bound pensioner was left in a state of near collapse after a burglar stole her £1,000 life savings from her handbag.

Paramedics gave distressed 83-year-old Mary Robinson oxygen at her daughter's house - the scene of the burglary - minutes after a sneak thief stole her handbag containing her savings and personal items.

The incident comes just a few weeks after Haswell, County Durham pensioner George Sharpe died of a heart attack only hours after a thief posing as a council worker stole money from his house.

Mrs Robinson's daughter, who does not want to be named, said: "I thought I was going to lose her, she was in such a state. If it had not been for the paramedics I would have lost her then and there.

"She was in total shock.

"The police were here in seconds and the paramedics. If they had not, my mother would be dead. She has a very bad heart.''

Mrs Robinson had just taken her daily medication for her heart condition, which has already resulted in heart attacks, when the thief struck at the property in Glendale Road, Acklam, Middlesbrough.

Slipping past an unlocked front door and crouching down, he crept into the lounge and took the bag, lying on the floor at the pensioner's feet.

The thief, described as "very young" had to pass Mrs Robinson's wheelchair to reach her bag.

Mrs Robinson's daughter said: "What is really worrying is, it was rich and easy pickings for the thief.

"My mother just stays with me at the weekends. I had just left her side and I went to phone my husband in the study."

She said the locks at both her home and her mother's had been changed since the burglary, which happened at about 6.40pm on Friday.

Inspector Steve Bakewell of Cleveland Police said: "It maybe that it is appropriate at this time to remind everyone to keep their doors locked to prevent these walk-in burglaries."