Spate of thefts from unlocked cars in Skelmersdale sparks police warning

Jan 10 2013 by Rob Pattinson, Skelmersdale Advertiser

THIEVES are targeting unlocked cars around Skelmersdale in a crime spree that has sparked warnings from police.

Motorists are being urged to ensure their cars are locked and nothing valuable is on display after around 15 thefts were reported across Skem and Up Holland in the last few weeks.

Officers have been out knocking on doors and leaflet dropping to warn motorists that a team of thieves is working in the area and looking for easy targets.

At 1.30am on Monday January 7, four men, thought to be in their 20s and wearing dark clothing and hoodies, were spotted walking up and down driveways on Hallbridge Gardens in Up Holland.

Police were called and it was discovered that loose change on display in one of the cars had been stolen as well as a pair of Ray Ban black sunglasses and a pair of white Dr Dre headphones.

Two unlocked cars were raided on Parsonage Brow in Up Holland between 3pm on January 4 and 2.30pm the next afternoon.

A black Medion sat nav console and charger and a pair of Nike prescription glasses were stolen from a Ford Mondeo, while a Tom Tom sat nav was taken from a Hyundai estate.

Other cars were targeted on the same night including a VW Golf on Millgreen Close, from which a Navman sat nav and a Philips MP3 player were taken, while a wallet was snatched from inside a Mercedes on Windmill Heights.

A car on a driveway on Elmers Green Lane in Skelmersdale was searched on the same night but nothing was taken.

Sgt Steve Monk of Lancashire Police said: “We would urge people to double check their property, including their cars and homes, are locked when they go out or go to bed at night. People are walking around housing estates during the early hours of the morning trying car doors and the majority of thefts have come from cars that are unlocked.”