A BRAVE homeowner tried to stop thieves driving off by clinging to their van windscreen wipers.

The 57-year-old woman returned home to find two men loading items from her garage into a white transit van.

Dorset Police said she tried to stop them from driving off by clinging onto the windscreen wipers but one of the offenders got out the van and pushed her off the vehicle and onto the ground.

A bespoke pressure washer, a Yamaha outboard engine and an amount of cash were stolen in the burglary which happened at around 11.30am on Saturday, February 21 at a residential address in the East Orchard area of Shaftesbury.

Police officers said the vehicle used by the offenders was a white Renault Traffic van. After the incident, the offenders headed in the direction of Shaftesbury.

Police Constable Laura Green, of Blandford police, said they were appealing for witnesses after the burglary.

She said: “The victim was injured, following the theft, when she tried to protect her belongings. The van also suffered damage to the windscreen wipers.

“I would like to hear from any witnesses who saw these men, or the van, in the East Orchard or Shaftesbury areas on Saturday February 21.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 21:159, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.