A Spalding woman caught a burglar red-handed after she spotted him going through the back door with her purse on Wednesday.
It happened at a house off London Road just after 1pm on Wednesday when the woman challenged the would-be burglary who gave the purse back.
The incident has led police to warn people not to leave their back doors and windows open when answering the front door, thereby avoiding a possible distraction burglary by someone getting inside the house through the back door.
Police also advise people to keep an eye out for neighbours and report any suspicious activity.
Anyone with information on the distraction burglary should call 101, quoting incident number 177 of May 18.