A GANG of thieves was thwarted by quick-thinking neighbours who blocked their getaway car, which was loaded with gold jewellery and thousands of pounds in cash.

The gang had been calling at houses in Hill Cot Road, Ashworth Lane and Hesketh Avenue, Astley Bridge, at about 6.30pm on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to establish which homes were unoccupied.

But they aroused suspicion and a message was circulated to residents via a neighbourhood watch WhatsApp group to raise the alarm.

Two neighbours then used their own vehicles to block the gang’s getaway car – a grey Seat Leon – in Hesketh Road.

Finding their escape route shut off at the Ashworth Lane end of the road, the thieves reversed back up it, smashing into several cars on the way.

The driver eventually lost control and crashed into a wall on the corner of Hesketh Avenue.

The gang then tried to escape on foot, but neighbours managed to apprehend one of them – thought to be the driver, who was armed.

It is unclear if there were three or four men in total.

Police arrived minutes later and arrested one man. Eyewitnesses said police discovered gold and cash stashed in the car’s boot.

The rest of the gang, thought to be in their late teens or early 20s, made off in the direction of Belmont Road.

Ashraf Patel, aged 27, who lives in Hesketh Avenue, helped to stop the driver as he tried to make off.

He said: “I got hurt in the process. He was double the size of me and he had a weapon. I was startled, it was dark but I think it was a screwdriver or a knife.”

Mr Patel added that the man was smartly dressed and had an Irish accent.

Mr Patel's father, Ibrahim ‘Babu’ Patel, added: “It’s been a bit scary these past four or five weeks. Thieves have smashed up four properties and robbed them.”

He added: “It used to be a very good area but the past few weeks it has got worse. We never used to have any break-ins."

A Hill Cot Road resident said recent crimes were spreading fear among residents.

He said: “This is placing a lot of anxiety and pressure on families and those who live alone. The house is a sanctuary and people work hard for their assets.

“Why do these individuals feel they have a right to intrude and take people’s possessions, leaving them living in fear?

“We need a greater police presence and more powers are required, because clearly the position now isn’t working.

“Such gangs didn’t operate many years ago but nowadays there’s a real issue and police need to respond effectively and, importantly, rapidly.

“Although officers on the ground do a great job, more is needed."

He added: “The recent burglaries are clearly not a case of old school break-ins where DVD players, laptops and televisions are being stolen. This is high volume organised crime targeting Asians using specialist tools to break in, masks, oil-spray and walkie-talkies.”

He said he knew of up to seven burglaries in their area over the past two months.

The latest incident comes less than two months after police confirmed they were investigating a spate of jewellery burglaries in the area in which Asian families were targeted.

A police spokesman said: "It has been reported that two men were looking in houses on the street.

“When residents challenged them they tried to make off. One of the men has fled the scene on foot and another was detained by residents. He has been arrested on suspicion of burglary.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously

on 0800 555111 quoting incident number 1719 of October 11.