A van was targeted by thieves overnight Wednesday who removed the radiator from the engine.

The van parked in Horwich was left badly damaged after parts were removed from the engine and it is said to be the latest in a spate of thefts where thieves have forced their way into car engines to steal parts. 

A spate of such thefts have been taking place in Wigan over the last month and this is the first one thought to have happened across the border in Bolton.

Cars in Bolton have been targeted by catalytic converter thieves in recent years, but now it seems engine parts are being targeted.

The van belonging to WRPS Building & Scaffolding Contractors  was parked  on Travers Street.

But when the worker returned to it yesterday morning they found it severely damaged.

The front of the vehicle had been removed and the radiator had been taken away.

Josh Alker, the company secretary at Westhoughton based WRPS, said: “We were made aware of it this morning.

“I think it has happened overnight.

“They have ripped it up to get parts.

“This is the first time I have heard of anything like this.

“I am not sure of what the cost of this is going to be.

“It was a shock to us, especially to the worker when he saw it.

“We have reported this to the police.”

He also urged anyone with information to get in contact with the police about the incident.

Police recently made an arrest after similar incidents took place in Wigan.

A GMP spokesperson said: "Since the start of August 2023 we have had eight offences in the Wigan area in which vehicle parts have been stripped and stolen from parked and secure vehicles.

“These have occurred all over the district with no distinctive hotspot area.

"The offences contain a variety of makes of vans and cars, with the common factor they all have had front end parts stolen.

“Officers from Wigan and Merseyside conducted a search of a garage in the St Helens area on Monday 25 September 2023, which uncovered two stolen engines and a stolen van.

"A man was arrested in the Wigan area on suspicion of going equipped for theft and two counts of theft of a motor vehicle. The male has been bailed for further enquiries."