OWNERS of top-of-the-range vehicles have been urged to make life tougher for car criminals after the second raid on a home in East Lancashire.

The appeal from Insp Bob Ford, of Clitheroe police, follows a burglary at a detached house in Whins Lane, Simonstone, when a watch and the keys to a Toyota Land Cruiser were snatched.

Two burglars who are believed to have arrived in a white L-registered Toyota Corolla with two other people then escaped in the Land Cruiser, valued at £17,000. Its registration number is T346 BRM.

The two vehicles were seen shortly afterwards travelling in convoy towards Simonstone Lane and up to the M65.

Insp Ford said the keys had been left in the kitchen and the first the owners knew was when they heard the Land Cruiser's engine being struck up at about 3.30am.

"They heard it start and drive away. They are quite traumatised, although they were not confronted. The chap has recently had another vehicle taken from the same premises," Insp Ford said.

He appealed to owners not to leave their keys in obvious places or to invest in a tracking system.

"This doesn't prevent it being stolen but once it has been stolen we are far better equipped to recover it," he said. "They cost about £300, but that's a drop in the ocean compared to the price of the vehicle."