HOUSEHOLDERS have been warned to be on their guard after sneaky thieves stole a string of items from back court washing lines.

The incidents happened at properties in Greenock town centre on Thursday evening around 6pm.

One resident told the Tele: "The culprits were an older man and younger girl who crept around our backs and took clothes from three different washing lines before going into the closes and looking for anything lying outside front doors."

Items stolen include a red North Face hoodie, a Celtic strip and several Adidas t-shirts.

Any with information is asked to call police on 101.