BURGLARS have targeted a residential village during a spate of lead thefts.

In the last two weeks there have been 10 burglaries in Blackrod where lead flashing has been stolen from porches and low roofs.

There have been five thefts in Ridgway, four in Vicarage Road and one in Eskdale Avenue.

On each occasion the thieves have climbed on windows or outhouses and stolen lead worth from £12 to £200.

Police say there have also been four burglaries in Blackrod over the same period — although it is not yet known if they are linked to the lead thefts.

A red bicycle was stolen from a metal shed in Hill Lane, cash was stolen from a bag inside a desk in Blackrod bypass, a bicycle and tools were stolen from a metal construction shed in Vicarage Road.

There was also a burglary at the Spar in Blackhorse Street where a car with ropes attached ripped off the shutters, and then thieves smashed the windows and stole cigarettes. The car crashed and a man was arrested.

The majority of the burglaries have been committed overnight, so police are warning residents to be vigilant.

Insp Wayne Readfern said: “We think the offenders are from out of the area and are using a vehicle to get to Blackrod and take the property away.

“We have stepped up patrols in the area and doing our checks with local scrap metal dealers in an effort to detect who these offenders.

“I would like to ask the Blackrod community to report and suspicious people or vehicles.

“You can contact us on 0161 856 5761.”

Cllr Graham Farrington added: “People are coming from out of the area and they do not miss a thing.

“People come to the farms asking for scrap because it is worth money, not long ago we had some cast baths and they were smashed into pieces and taken.

“It is a widespread problem that is happening all over the place.

“You wonder how the have the gall to steal lead from windows and porches. People need to be on their guard.”