BURGLARS targeted homes in Blackburn while Asian residents were out enjoying a meal at the end of a day’s fasting.

Three houses in the Pleckgate area were broken into, and police believe the offenders may have been looking for Asian gold.

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Two homes in Rhodes Avenue were burgled and the thieves made off with a variety of goods including cash, cheques, laptops, iPads, a Sky TV box, and a television.

A third property in Brantfell Road was also ransacked, but the burglars escaped empty-handed.

Residents believe that the thieves deliberately targeted the area on Saturday evening, expecting houses to be empty while residents visited family and friends to break their Ramadan fast and share an ‘iftar’ evening meal at sunset.

During Ramadan, food and drink is served daily, before sunrise and after the sun sets.

Police believe four men could be responsible for the thefts, which took place between 3.30pm and 11.50pm, and officers are asking for help in tracing a black Nissan Juke 4x4.

Officers are asking anyone who saw the car, with four men on board, to come forward.

DS Paul Gaynor from Lancashire Police said: “We believe that the people responsible were looking for Asian gold.

“If anybody has seen anything suspicious in the area at the time, please give us a call on 101.”

Police have stepped up patrols in the area, and the local neighbourhood watch is also on alert.

l Two men, both 27, have been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The men, from Stockport and Manchester, were in police custody yesterday.