POLICE are hunting for burglars using a "similar way" to enter homes after a number of break-ins in Lostock.

Jane and David Lathwood’s house on Margrove Chase was burgled just after midnight on Sunday, May 2 after the criminals came with a ladder and plank of wood, cut the electricity outside the house and doused it in a bucket of water, stopping any noise. They also cut phone lines.

The culprits then prised open a locked kitchen window before ransacking the house and taking high value items as well as the house's CCTV system. The couple were on holiday and the burglar's left in Mr Lathwood's black BMW X5.

After The Bolton News published an appeal, Mrs Lathwood was contacted by several residents within half a mile to say their homes had been broken into using the same method in the last few months.

Inspector David Johnston of Greater Manchester Police's Bolton division said: "We are aware of an increase in burglaries in and around the Lostock area using a similar way to access properties and understand our communities will be rightly concerned with this.

"Myself and my team would like to reassure the public that all reported burglaries are being investigated to determine whether these crimes are linked."

Insp Johnston added: "We will always take crimes of this nature seriously and encourage the public to report anything suspicious to police.

"Your reports help us to build a better understanding of the issues within our communities so we can plan our resourcing accordingly."