A homeowner woke up and interrupted two men as they were carrying out a burglary on his house.
The householder saw two men dressed in dark clothing standing in the front living room of the property in Edward Street, Carlisle.
The incident happened about 6am this morning.
When the were spotted they fled in the direction of Charles Street, off Botchergate.
The raiders made off with a purse.
They are described as being white, of average height and build, and were wearing dark clothing with their faces partly covered at the time of the incident.
Police are reminding people to make sure their property is secure.
Anyone with information is asked to contact officers on 101.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here