A man was threatened with a knife after disturbing a burglar in his Houghton Regis home.
The crime happened late on Saturday afternoon when the intruder entered a house in Tithe Farm Road through an unlocked back door.
He went upstairs and started searching the master bedroom, but the 29-year-old victim heard noises and went into the room to investigate as he believed he was home alone.
As the victim walked into the bedroom he was confronted by the burglar, who held a large knife towards him in a threatening manner. The householder fled and hid in another room, while the intruder left the home empty-handed.
Now detectives are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened between 5.20pm and 5.35pm, to come forward.
The raider was a white man, between 35 and 40 years old, around 5ft 11ins tall, clean shaven, of slender build and wearing a long -sleeved black jacket with the hood worn up.
Det Con Denise Comb, who is investigating, is keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area prior to the aggravated burglary or may have seen the culprit afterwards.
If you have information relating to this incident, contact Det Con Comb, in confidence, on 01582 394359, phone the non-emergency 101 number, or text information to 07786 200011.
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.