Two cars were stolen off the same street after it is thought thieves used a special device to gain entry to the vehicles.

The Nissan Navaras were taken from Astley Bridge on Tuesday evening at around 10.30pm.

One belonged to Neil Crane who spotted his car had been stolen when he returned to his house.

His vehicle was stolen from the corner of Wilton Street and Gresham Street.

Footage which has been handed to the police shows the vehicles seemingly being scanned in order for the thieves to gain access to them.

Mr Crane spoke of his frustration at having his car stolen.

He said: “They took my car and they took my neighbours.

“I was walking to my house and I saw the car was gone and I thought ‘where is my car?’ “I was worried they had gone in the house.

“They have been scanned.

“They are obviously taking them to order.

“It is going to inconvenience me.

“Fortunately my company has allowed me to used a van so I have got a set of wheels.

“I will sort a new vehicle at some point but it is a pain in the neck.

“The police have been round and viewed the footage.

“Fortunately I did not have anything in the vehicle.”

GMP confirmed they had investigated the theft but no suspect had been identified.

A spokesperson said: “After an initial investigation, no suspect has been identified following a report of a theft of motor vehicle from Wilton Street, Bolton.

“If any new information comes to light, then officers will conduct the relevant enquiries.”

Earlier this year, senior police officers said cracking down on vehicle crime is the "number one priority" for officers in the north of Bolton.

Neighbourhood Inspector for Bolton North, Lisa Clarke, addressed the issue at a Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting in Astley Bridge.

She told the residents then: “Our number one priority is vehicle crime, not just in Astley Bridge and Sharples but across all of north Bolton.

“There are thefts from motor vehicles and thefts of motor vehicles.

“It is mostly very different sets of offenders."

Concerns have been raised about scanning devices being used to access and steal vehicles in Bolton.

In August this year a car was stolen in 15 seconds from Lever Edge Lane in Great Lever just three weeks after the owner had purchased it.

Video footage on that occasion showed two men approaching the parked vehicle and swiftly gaining access.