AN organised gang is believed to be behind a spate of high-end sport car thefts from homes across County Durham and Cleveland.

The crew of potentially four or five criminals, from outside of the region, are targeting a number of addresses in what are described as two-in-one-burglaries – where the property is broken into and items along with the car keys and vehicle are stolen.

Three expensive vehicles were taken in the space of two hours during one night this month.

Police believe the flash motors are being targeted and have issued a warning to the public to be extra vigilant.

Sergeant Mark Edwards, of Newton Aycliffe Police, said: “These crimes are all being investigated by CID. In the last few weeks it has hit the radar, and is not something that has been going on for a long period of time. It’s quite wide spread across the county and neighbouring forces.

"Anybody who is the owner of state-of-the-art sports vehicles take precautions, use garages and make sure they are locked. Don’t leave keys near doors. They (criminals) are looking for a quick hit and will go to the obvious places that people keep keys.”

In most instances the group has used a method to enter homes which officers say is rare and used only by a small handful of offenders.

On Saturday, October 8, three addresses were targeted. At about 3.45am a home in Eaglescliffe was broken into and a black Audi SQ5 was taken.

This was followed shortly at 4.15am by a burglary in Yew Walk, Long Newton, where a blue one-year-old Ford Focus GT3 TDCI was stolen.

And at about 5am occupants of a house in Wycliffe Close, in Newton Aycliffe, were woken as a gang member forced their way into the family home and stole a wallet, keys and their rare 2016 Audi RS3 in Nardo Grey.

The Northern Echo:

A 2016 Audi RS3 like the one stolen in the burglaries

Bought with a hefty price tag of about £40,000, the vehicle is now worth around £10,000 more as only 500 were brought to the UK. A registration plate was snatched from a vehicle in Baliol Green at around the same time.

Sgt Edwards believes the same crew were responsible for the theft of a BMW 420 DM Sport from Old Wood Close in the town between midday and 3.30pm on Friday. The vehicle was found abandoned in Coxhoe the next day with its wheels missing.

“It is not just random, we think people are canvassing the area before hand,” he added.

Anyone with information or who has witnessed anything suspicious should contact Sgt Edwards on 101.