A WOMAN who advertised a mobile phone for sale on a classified ads website had the handset stolen by thieves posing as buyers turned up at her door.

Police took to social media to warn people selling items privately online to be on their guard against being ripped off on their own doorstep.

GMP Bolton South wrote: "Please be aware when selling goods from your home address online.

"We have had a incident yesterday in Little Lever where a member of the public has had an item stolen from home address when two males turned up to view the item, that was on sale online, and made off without paying.

"Please take care and get all of the information of the person you are dealing with."

The duo snatched the device from the victim's home in School Street, Little Lever, at around 4pm on Wednesday.

The woman had advertised the mobile phone on popular private listings website Gumtree.

Insp Dave Henthorne, of Bolton South and Central Integrated Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Two males respond to an advert placed on Gumtree.

"They arrived at the victim's front door and engaged in conversation.

"One of the males says he has a problem with his tyre and asked the victim to get him some water.

"The victim went to get the water and left the phone on the internal window ledge.

"As she went to get the water, the males entered her house and stole the phone before making off."