A GANG of car thieves are targeting Burnley homes to steal vehicles to order, police believe.

Seven cars were targeted last weekend.

The crooks are believed to be part of a car-ringing gang which is stripping down the vehicles and selling off the parts.

Several vehicles worth tens of thousands of pounds have vanished during a series of raids on homes in the town.

Around £40,000 worth of cars have been taken by the gang since Friday.

A high performance Subaru Impreza was among the cars involved when raiders have broken into homes to steal car keys.

Inspector Damian Darcy said it was more likely the cars were stolen to be stripped for parts.

He said: "We have had a series of burglaries and car thefts over the Christmas period.

"People were getting into houses and stealing the cars, possibly to order or to use for spare parts.

"It is obviously the same group of people and we believe they are local to the area."

The break-ins happened: at Lonsdale Street on New Year's Day at 9.30pm when a black Volkswagen Golf, registration GF53 URZ, worth £10,000 and a silver Vauxhall Astra, registration PF51 XKJ, worth £7,000, were stolen from the same house; between 6pm and 6.30pm on Saturday when thieves walked into a house in Arkwright Street before stealing the keys to a blue Subaru Impreza. However they were disturbed by the homeowner when they accidentally set off the alarm. The burglars who fled empty handed were described as three white men, 18-20 years old, 5ft 8ins, of medium build and wearing dark clothing.

between 4pm and 6pm the same day in Woodbine Road when thieves smashed a window of the house before driving off in a red Hyundai Coupe, registration S601 TBA, worth £5,000 and a Vauxhall Astra, registration VU05 NNZ with Rentokill livery, worth £10,000.

between 4pm and 10.40pm on Friday in Richmond Street when a blue Renault Clio, worth £6,000 was stolen. It was later recovered in Rossendale Road.

between Friday and Monday when a blue Vauxhall Corsa, registration R171 MCW, worth £1,500 was stolen in Victoria Road, Padiham.

The incidents come just weeks after police in Pendle warned car owners to protect their vehicles by installing tracking devices following a spate of thefts.

Police believed a gang were travelling into East Lancashire from Bradford to target luxury and high performance models such as Porches and Mercedes.

Homeowners were today warned not to leave their car keys on display following the string of incidents over the New Year.

Insp Darcy added: "We would remind people not to leave their doors unlocked and not to leave their car keys hanging about."

Anybody with information should ring Burnley CID on 01282 472121.