LUXURY car thieves have targeted Chorley yet again, this time stealing two motors worth nearly £50,000.

The two cars taken over the weekend were the latest in a trend of high-class vehicle thefts.

Last week, a silver BMW 530 worth £36,000 was taken from a driveway in Camellia Grove, Chorley, after burglars sneaked into a house through an unlocked front door and took the keys.

Now police are hunting a thief who took a Volvo V70 from a drive in Adlington after the owner left the keys in the ignition.

The £28,000 silver 03-registered vehicle was swiped after its owner, who lives in Fairview Drive, nipped into his home and left the car running on Saturday, January 17 at around 10.50am.

A man in his thirties with short brown hair, wearing a blue fleece, was seen nearby in a red Vauxhall Vectra, which was then abandoned and later discovered to be stolen.

In the weekend's second vehicle theft, which is not being officially linked to the earlier incidents, a car was taken from Winchester Avenue, Chorley, after thieves broke into a detached home and took the keys.

They made off in the owner's 03-registered silver Volkswagen Passat, valued at £18,000.

They struck between 5.15pm and 10pm on Sunday, January 18.

None of the stolen vehicles have been traced and Detective Constable Simon Scott, of Chorley CID, said people needed to be vigilant.

"We are not, at present, linking the thefts, but it appears there is a trend at the moment for taking new, high class vehicles.

"We would ask members of the public never to leave their keys in the ignition and to take care not to leave them hanging by a door where it is easy for thieves to use a 'hook and cane' type instrument to steal them."

Anyone with information about any of the recent car thefts should call Chorley CID on 01257 269021 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.