A CRIMINAL gang made off with three top of the range cars after separate strikes on homes last night.

Detectives today appealed for witnesses to come forward to catch the culprits who made off with a Subaru, BMW and Jaguar after taking keys from homes in, Darwen, Hoddlesden and Edgworth.

The thieves struck at each address in the space of an hour before driving off towards Bolton between 8pm and 9pm.

On each occasion the thieves broke into the victims' homes and stole their car keys.

They walked into one home and took the keys to a Jaguar in front of the owner, who unsuccessfully gave chase.

Police today confirmed the thefts were being linked and are now appealing for witnesses to catch those behind the raids which come on the back of a spate of car-ringing crimes in the county.

The raids come only months after car thieves targeted homes in Burnley and Pendle in what police feared was part of a steal-to-order racket.

The crooks were believed to be stripping down the vehicles and selling the parts. Police said it was possible last night's raids are connected to the earlier crimes.

But detectives want anyone who noticed anyone acting suspicious in the area to get in touch.

Insp Andrea Bradbury said: "Three high-value vehicles were taken overnight at addresses in Darwen, Hoddlesden and Edgworth.

"The first incident occurred at 8.10pm when a silver H-reg BMW was stolen from an address at Pitville Street, Darwen. Two young men were seen making off with the vehicle.

"At 9pm thieves targeted a home in Alpine Close, Hoddlesden.

"Two men entered a property and stole the car keys of an X-type Jaguar even though the owner was in front of them.

"The owner tried to stop them but they made off in the Jaguar which was later found abandoned with changed plates in Bolton.

"The Jaguar had been seen pulling up at an address in Moorfield, Edgworth.

"The thieves took keys to a silver BG55 registered Subaru and drove away."

She added: "We would like anyone who saw anything suspicious to get in touch.

"We do believe the incidents are connected. The cars are worth tens of thousands and it is possible they are connected to other raids."

In January, seven cars in Burnley were targeted in one weekend, including a high-performance Subaru Impreza, when raiders again broke into homes to steal car keys.

The incidents came just weeks after police in Pendle warned car owners to protect their vehicles by installing tracking devices after a spate of thefts.

Police believed a gang were travelling to East Lancashire from Bradford to target valuable models.