FOUR vehicles were stolen after the keys were taken from the owners' homes.

The vehicles were all stolen from the Horwich and Blackrod area during April and all involved keys being stolen first.

The first car was taken between 1am and 4am on Thursday, April 13 from Mason Street, Horwich.

Burglars used a tool to bend a rear door lock, breaking into a property before stealing a handbag, a purse and the keys.

The keys were then used to steal a vehicle from outside the property.

Overnight on Friday, April 14, intruders prised open the patio doors of a property in Butterwick Fields, Horwich, and stole a purse, a mobile phone, £50 in cash and the keys before taking a vehicle from outside.

A third car was taken overnight on Sunday, April 16, from a property in Harrison Crescent, Blackrod.

The garage door was forced open and burglars got into the house through a connecting internal door.

Keys were stolen which were then used to steal a vehicle from outside the property.

On Wednesday, April 26, the occupant of a property in Crown Lane, Horwich, got up at 6am to find the front door ajar after it had been locked the previous night.

Keys had been stolen which were used to steal a vehicle.

Greater Manchester Police urge people not to leave spare keys about the home, saying that it is best to leave them with a neighbour, friend or relative.

If a vehicle is stolen using your keys, you may not be insured, they warn.

People are also urged to make sure door frames are secured to the brickwork of their house before fitting any extra locks and also getting CCTV to add even more security.