TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of a string of violent offences after £50,000 of jewellery and cash were stolen from various houses in Bolton during a week-long crime spree.

The men, thought to be part of a gang, are believed to have stolen large amounts of jewellery, cash and other items from addresses in Horwich, Kearsley, Deane and Daubhill, between August 28 and September 3.

During an attempted burglary in Moorlands View, Daubhill, a man had to jump out of the way of a speeding car to avoid being run over by the thugs.

They are also thought to have committed three burglaries, an attempted burglary and a robbery in Bury, Whitefield and Rochdale.

During one robbery at Parrenthorn Road, Bury, a heavily pregnant woman was punched after a gang broke into her home and stole £2,500 in cash, along with three necklaces, three rings, two earrings and a bracelet, before driving off.

The men, aged 30 and 26, were arrested on suspicion of robbery, serious assault and burglary after police stopped a silver Volkswagen Golf GTI in Whitefield on September 3, and found a large amount of stolen jewellery stashed in the boot along with three sets of false registration plates.

Police have released photographs of the jewellery stolen to in a bid to trace the owners.

It is believed that the spree began in Ormston Avenue, Horwich, after a burglary was reported on August 28, and then two days later a home in Manchester Road, Kearsley, was burgled.

On September 1, a home in Wigan Road, Deane, was burgled before the attempted burglary in Moorlands View.

Police want to speak to anyone who has information about the incidents or who may have seen a silver Volkswagen Golf being driven erratically or lurking around an estate in the Bolton, Bury and Rochdale areas to come forward.

Det Insp James Faulkner said: "This is an investigation that has many strands but at the heart of this job are numerous innocent members of the public who have been targeted by these thieves.

"In some instances they have been physically threatened, including a heavily pregnant woman, so it is clear the offenders have no qualms whatsoever about resorting to violence regardless of age or gender, making them a dangerous gang we desperately need to catch.

"Clearly jewellery can be very lucrative when sold on the black market so there are a number of steps we would advise people take to protect themselves against this type of crime.

"While some of the incidents have happened at the homes of Asian families, these men do not discriminate and have targeted people of all ethnicity.

"We know these criminals are causing a great deal of anxiety and apprehension among families living in our communities and the fact we have arrested two people shows we are making good progress in our investigation."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.