Residents have been put on alert in Accrington after two house burglaries targeting car keys.

Police said both incidents happened in the early hours of Wednesday, July 7.

At around 3am a house on Sandy Lane was targeted where the burglars smashed a pane of glass in the front door.

Police watch liaison officer Anthony Ford said: “The offenders then reached through and stole a bunch of keys from the lock in the back of the door.

“They used these to steal a Ford Focus belonging to the occupier that was parked outside the address.”

It came just an hour after a similar incident on Garfield Street, when offenders again attempted to gain entry by smashing a pane of glass in the front door.

However, the noise alerted the occupier and the burglars fled.

Mr Ford said it is believed the offenders were again targeting the keys for a car parked immediately outside the property.

It comes after police warned residents in Great Harwood, Rishton and Clayton-le-Moors following a spate of early hours break-ins on July 1.

Anyone with information can call police on 101.