Qld pair allegedly stole from dead woman

Two teenagers who allegedly discovered the dead body of an elderly woman but proceeded to thieve jewellery, food and drinks from her Cairns home anyway have been charged.

The pair found the 77-year-old woman's body on Monday night after breaking into her home and stealing a number of items before going back in the early hours of Tuesday for a second hit on the house, police say.

Neighbours tipped off authorities about the thefts, and police soon tracked the pair down along with the stolen property.

A 17-year-old youth and an 18-year-old woman have been charged with one count each of attempted burglary and are due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court.

Police searched the house and established the woman died from natural causes before the burglary.