DIMINUTIVE grandmother Jean Beauchamp gave a burglar more than he bargained for when he broke in to her Devizes home.

Mrs Beauchamp, just under five feet tall and about five and a half stones in weight, had no second thoughts about launching herself at the intruder who was more than six inches taller and considerably heftier than she is.

The 76-year-old grandmother was sitting in the lounge of her home in Steele Close, at about 5.30pm on Friday evening when she heard a noise from elsewhere in the house.

She said: "I heard this clonk sound and went to investigate. I was just passing by the main bedroom when this dark figure shot past me towards the back bedroom.

"I didn't think about it. I went after him. He got into the bedroom ahead of me and shut the door on me. By the time I got into the room he was on his way out of the window. I tried to grab his foot but I was too late.

"I was so angry. I didn't stop to think. I suppose he could have done me some damage but I wasn't thinking about that."

Items of jewellery had been laid out on the bed ready to take but, so far as Mr and Mrs Beauchamp are aware, the thief got away empty-handed.

Mrs Beauchamp said: "What I can't understand is that all the lights were on and we were watching TV. He knew we were here and yet he took the chance of us seeing him. It's a bit worrying. He can't be all there in the head."

Mrs Beauchamp's husband Peter, 80, was asleep in the chair when the raider struck. He said: "I was aware Jean had gone out of the room and then I heard this kerfuffle. I thought a cat had got in and then Jean came back in to tell me what had happened.

"We have lived here for 15 years and nothing like this has ever happened before. We're a bit shaken about it, but nothing was taken so we'll get over it."

The burglar had jemmied the window of the rear bedroom out of its frame, breaking the window catches in the process. The Beauchamps are now having new, high-security replacement windows fitted.

Police are connecting the Beauchamps' burglary with two others in the area the same evening.

In Elm Tree Gardens an elderly man confronted an intruder about ten minutes after the Beauchamps' ordeal. He had also been watching TV when he heard a noise in another room.

He challenged the burglar and there was a brief scuffle before the raider grabbed the householder's wallet from his pocket and made off, grabbing £3 cash left for the milkman on his way out.

The intruder is described as a white man, about 19 or 20 years of age, wearing denim clothing or a tracksuit.

At about 6.10pm on Friday, a resident of Clock Inn Park at Lydeway, near Stert, was also watching TV when he heard a noise and went to investigate. He found a man standing by his bedroom window.

He is described as about 5ft 7in, 16 to 18, wearing a black woollen hat, and a dark anorak and trousers.

But the dark stranger's crime spree might not end there. At about 6.35pm, an elderly woman in Upavon heard a loud bang at her home and, on going to the back door to investigate found a male wearing a black boiler suit.

He told her that her boiler was about to explode and she should collect up all her valuables and evacuate the building.

Detective Constable Jon Lee said: "He quizzed her about the location of her valuables and, once she had gathered it all up, insisted she gave it all to him for safe keeping. That was the last she saw of him or her possessions.

"This was a despicable crime on a confused, frightened old lady. Not everyone has the presence of mind or courage of Mrs Beauchamp, although we would never recommend having a go at an intruder."

Devizes police are also investigating a break-in at a house in Patney that took place some time on Friday night or Saturday morning, when jewellery and an antique writing desk were stolen.

DC Lee said: "We cannot link this with the other three crimes, but it is being looked at in conjunction with them."

Because of the knowledge the burglar had of the premises attacked, police are working on the theory the perpetrator is a local man. They are appealing for any information and DC Lee can be contacted on (01380) 722141. Alternatively, information can be given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Residents in the Hillworth Road area of Devizes are furious that burglars at their homes last week caused so much damage to their properties.

Three properties in Pinetum Close and Moorlands were attacked last Tuesday afternoon. In one house, the raiders attempted to get into the property by kicking rear and front doors, causing £650 damage, though they left empty-handed after failing to gain entry. Others were not so lucky.

Nearby, burglars used the householder's own sledge hammer to smash a rear transom window to gain entry and steal over £3,000 of cash and jewellery.