Cross-dressing thief stole knickers from a washing line while dressed as a WOMAN

Police are hunting a cross-dressing male thief who stole knickers and clothes from a washing line – while disguised as a WOMAN.

The burglar was spotted wearing a fake blonde wig, black high heels and a fur coat as he snatched underwear which was drying in a back garden.

Homeowner Julia Lindo’s teenage daughter Monisha spotted the intruder raiding the washing line at her home in Nottingham at 10pm on Wednesday.

When the schoolgirl approached the thief she was stunned to see a man dressed as a woman.

Monisha, 16, said: “I’d just come home from the cinema and thought it was my mum outside because I could see a figure with blonde hair.

“But when I approached I realised it was a man because he turned round and just stared at me.

“He had red lipstick on a blonde wig and was wearing a fur coat and leggings. He was stuffing my mum’s underwear into his fur coat.

“When I asked him what he was doing ‘Ssshhh, if you’re not quiet, I’ll take you away from your mummy.’

“I was scared for my life. I didn’t know what was going to happen and all the time he just kept staring at me.

“I was panicking and in shock, but tried to stay calm whilst telling him to take what he wanted.

“It was definitely a man as his voice was low but it was really creepy and quiet. He had lipstick all over his mouth rather than just on his lips.

“All I could do was run into the house and scream for mum who was inside with my little sister who was asleep.”

But as Julia ran outside the intruder leapt over the decking in the garden to escape, leaving the washing behind.

Julia, 38, a support worker, said: “My daughter is in a state of shock.

“I’m more concerned about my daughter than anything but I have not slept for thinking what he could have been capable of and whether we are safe or not.

“I can’t stop thinking about it, it has been really scary

“I had some clothes go missing last year. I thought it had been kids or something.

“When he disappeared he went down the back of the houses down an alley so he must know the area well otherwise he wouldn’t know about that. They are like a maze.

“I was just getting over it and getting back to myself but now I won’t be going outside for a long time.

“He could come back, he knows what I look like and I could just be doing something normal and I could not come back.”

Monisha added: “He could come back, he knows what I look like and I could just be doing something normal and I could not come back.

“I am really going to struggle to go outside on my own now.”

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed the incident had been reported and enquiries were ongoing with additional patrols being sent to the area.