A YOUNGSTER'S Christmas present was stolen during a cruel incident in Pool-in-Wharfedale.

Two youngsters were playing in Pool School's yard on Arthington Lane when they were approached by a man in a blue or grey car. He asked them if they had a mobile phone and offered them 20p if he could borrow it. When they handed him the Nokia 3210 phone, worth £100, the man drove off with it.

Part of the car's registration number was believed to be E692 9H, although police checks have found at least part of this number to be wrong.

The man is described as white, in his 20s and of slim build. The incident occurred at 6.20pm on January 2. Detective Inspector Steve O'Callaghan of Weetwood Police warned people not to give mobile phones to people they did not know.

WOULD-BE thieves were chased off after they attempted to break into a mechanics' workshop in Yeadon.

The thieves had tied some rope on to the security grille on the front entrance of Motavation, in the Old Brick Works, and had pulled the grille away with their car. A passer-by saw what was going on and chased them off.

The witness described one of the offenders as a white male, over 6ft tall, in his early 20s and wearing a light coloured jacket, blue jeans and white trainers. The car used was a D-registered Austin Maestro.

More than £100 worth of damage was caused to the grille during the incident, which occurred at 5.40pm on January 1.

HOUSE and car keys were taken by burglars from a home in Featherbank Grove, Horsforth when thieves smashed a glass window in the front door.

They reached in through the window and took the keys at 2.35am on January 3, before being disturbed and driving off towards Fink Hill.

Det Insp O'Callaghan said this type of burglary where keys were stolen was becoming increasingly popular and advised people not to keep keys in obvious places like kitchens or hallways.

A BARKING dog is believed to have frightened off two would-be burglars as they tried to break into a house in Rawdon Road, Horsforth at 10.50am on January 4. The two men attempted to force a rear window, but were unable to gain entry and were forced to flee when the householders' pet dog started barking.

A neighbour also saw two white men aged about 20, with one appearing to be unshaven, acting suspiciously. They were seen with a black C-registered BMW.

THREE burglars broke into a house in Long Row, Horsforth, by breaking through a rear UPVC door and then an internal door. It is unclear what was taken.