TWO brothers who burgled luxury homes stealing thou- sands of pounds and a sports car, have been jailed.

Francis and John Phelps stole a safe containing £5,000, jewellery worth £3,700 and a car worth £12,000 in two raids.

Bolton Crown Court heard the first burglary took place at a house in Cox Green Road, Egerton, on the evening of June 25.

The residents, Patricia and Keith Matheson, were out when the two struck.

A safe containing the cash and jewellery was stolen.

The next morning, at around 6.45am, the couple were waiting for police to arrive when they saw a white van pull up.

Two men got out and walked along the drive.

When the pair saw the couple they ran back, got in to the van and sped away.

Mrs Matheson noted the van registration number and Mr Matheson chased after them in his car.

He managed to pull level with the van but they swerved into his vehicle and managed to get away.

Two hours later Francis Phelps, of Haroldene Street, Tonge Moor, and another man went to Metro Salvage in Bolton and part exchanged the van for a Ford Ka.

The second burglary took place at The Gatehouse, in Belmont Road, Bolton.

They stole a purple Lotus belonging to Paul Dunne, worth £12,000, which they drove through the wooden garage doors.

They also took a television, DVDs and skis. They also tried to take an Aston Martin but the keys jammed in the ignition.

Inquiries into the first burglary lead police to an address in Somerville Square, Bolton, where they discovered the safe which bore the fingerprints of 33- year-old Francis Phelps.

While they were there the purple Lotus and the Ka pulled up and then drove off.

Later that day police discovered the Ka in Cotton Street, Halliwell. John Phelps, aged 27, of Brewster Street, Middleton, walked up to the car and was caught red handed with the property stolen from the second burglary. Francis Phelps was jailed for two years and two months after pleading guilty to burglary and John Phelps was jailed for two years and nine months after pleading guilty to burglary and handling stolen goods.

DC Matt Duquesnay said: “These were cases of ‘sneak-in’ burglaries and the defendants’ actions left victims feeling violated.”