The 70-year-old woman was eating dinner when she heard a noise from her bedroom and approached to allegedly find a man inside.

Police said she then unlocked her screen security door and said “you can come out now” before the man ran away with the woman’s handbag.

A small amount of cash and credit cards were stolen before the handbag was dumped about 20 metres away from the house.

The incident, which took place on November 26, was one of three break and enters to occur in the same unit block on Chelmsford Drive in the past month.

A Metford man has been charged in relation to the three incidents.

The first took place about 10pm on November 9. An 84-year-old woman was awoken when a light was turned on in her hallway.

The woman screamed before the alleged offender fled the scene.

The third incident took place at the same 84-year-old woman’s house on December 3. 

Police claim a man was seen trying to break into the unit through a front window.

A witness confronted the man and took a video, which was then passed on to police.

Police used the footage to arrest a 19-year-old man when he presented for bail on a different offence on December 4.

The man was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court this month.