POLICE in Great Harwood have repeated pleas to drivers not to leave valuables in their cars after a spate of linked thefts.

Thieves struck four times overnight on Wednesday, removing rubber seals and windows from cars to loot them.

Their biggest haul came from a Citroen Dispatch van in Park Road,.

The raiders struck between 8.30pm on Wednesday and 6.30 am the next day and escaped with goods worth £1,560. They removed the seal and glass from the rear nearside window.

Items stolen included a Sony Handcam video camera, worth £250; a 35mm camera, £70; a man's black leather jacket, £200; Oakley sunglasses, £130; a Bosch router, £250; a Dewal drill, £170; two Makita battery drills, total £240; SDS drill attachments, £80; and a worktop jig, £170.

Between 9am and 11.30am on Wednesday, thieves targeted a Renault Clio in Orchard Street, removing the seal and glass from the rear windscreen before stealing the parcel shelf containing Kenwood speakers worth £350.

Sports clothing and CDs were among items stolen from a metallic silver Nissan Micra in Arthur Street between 5.30pm on Wednesday and 9am.

Again the seal and glass were removed from the rear passenger window and a Nike bubble jacket worth £40, a Nike ruksack, £20, an Elle black leathr handbag, £40, assorted cards and driving licence, and £40 in cash stolen. Five CDs were also stolen.

A fourth vehicle, a Peugot Expert in Duke Street, was also targeted but nothing was stolen.