A GANG which targeted ‘vulnerable’ children’s nurseries across East Lancashire were caught out when their getaway car told police exactly where they had been.

Burglars Dominic Crook, Morgan Parkinson and Paul Johnstone struck at up to five nurseries in a single night, as part of a 12-day spree which eventually saw nine premises being broken into.

But Burnley Crown Court was told that the car they used was fitted with a tracking device, for insurance purposes, which enabled investigators to place them in or around five nursery locations in Blackburn and Rishton in August 2014.

Tim Storrie, prosecuting, said the trio had deliberately targeted children’s nurseries as they were thought to have limited security facilities.

The court heard that the victims on the single night included Riverside, in Lower Darwen, Blackburn’s Westholme, Willow Tree and Oscar Bears and First Class at Rishton.

The intruders, thought to have been wearing makeshift masks fashioned out of jumper sleeves, would often smash their way in through door panels and conduct searches of offices.

On one occasion they disabled a CCTV system so they could not be identified.

Their later victims included Little People in Padiham, Conkers at Langho, Early Birds of Great Harwood, Little Sparks in Clayton-le-Moors, alongside the Town and Country vets practice, in the same town.

Commenting on the nursery owners’s losses, Mr Storrie added: “They cannot divert their meagre resources to providing Fort Knox style protection for their premises.”

Jailing all three, Judge Ian Leeming QC said: “This was a determined plan to burgle, involving a great deal of planning and and preparation, travelling around in a vehicle looking for premises to attack.”

Crook, 23, of Jubilee Street, Oswaldtwistle, Parkinson, 32, of Within Grove, Huncoat, and Johnstone, 34, of Meadoway, Church, each admitted to conspiracy to burgle.

Earlier Crook had also pleaded guilty to three burglaries at garden centres, including Robertshaws at Earby, and one attempted raid, which saw him net thousands of pounds worth of power tools.

He was also convicted of perverting the course of justice after he confessed to writing a false alibi statement for one of his co-defendants.

Parkinson also admitted to the 2015 burglary of a dental practice in Accrington, which saw only £20 stolen but damage costing £1,600 to repair.

Crook was jailed for 30 months, Parkinson for 29 months and Johnstone for 27 months.

Anthony Parkinson, defending Crook, said he was genuinely remorseful for getting involved with the enterprise. He had never been to prison before and had made efforts, while on remand, to improve his skills.

Philip Holden, for Johnstone, said the defendant helped to care for four children, including one who suffered from a hole in the heart and might soon require surgery. He was the main breadwinner for the family as his wife could not work through disability.

Alex Rostron, for Parkinson, said his client, a father-of-five, had decided to start stealing as he was under financial pressure, owing rent and council tax arrears at the time. His young daughter had tragically died just days before he set out on the spree.