FOUR teenagers from Ellesmere Port are behind bars for their part in two ‘car and key’ burglaries.

Two admitted breaking into a house in Little Sutton on May 15, stealing car keys and taking a car from the driveway.

The other two admitted an almost identical offence committed at a house in Neston in August. Both cars were later involved in crashes.

Detective sergeant Mike Ankers, from the Cheshire Police Western Area Pro-Active Policing Team said, “Although these two burglaries had no direct link, these young men all know one another and are part of a group in Ellesmere Port which is involved in crime and anti social behaviour.”

Detective chief inspector Simon Price, the Western Area Crime Manager added: “The car-key burglary has become a growing trend over the past few years. It results simply from the fact that it’s almost impossible to drive off a modern car without using the keys.

“In some cases the criminals break into a house with the pre-planned intention of stealing the keys and taking the car; in other cases they find the keys in the course of a burglary and then decide to take the vehicle.

“Car owners can take some basic precautions to help prevent this type of crime. When you are at home, take as much care of your keys as you would outside. Keep them somewhere secure where they can’t be seen through an outside window or glass door panel.

“Leaving them on a window sill or on a table near a window is an invitation to any would-be burglar who may be on the prowl.

“We put a lot of effort and resources into tackling this issue. Officers identify offenders and target them pro-actively. In these two cases the sentences reflect the serious view that we and the courts take of this type of crime.”

Keegan Dignam, 19, who was living in Cambridge Road, Ellesmere Port at the time of the offence and Daniel Dickinson, 19, of Seymour Drive, Ellesmere Port were sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on Friday, November 26 at Warrington Crown Court after admitting charges of burglary, aggravated taking of a vehicle without consent and breach of Anti Social Behaviour Orders in Little Sutton.

Dignam was sentenced to three years in prison. Dickinson was sentenced to two years in prison.

On Monday, November 29 at Chester Crown Court, Matthew Willoughby, 18, of Sutton Way, Whitby, Ellesmere Port and Daniel Nield, 19, of Luton Road, Ellesmere Port, were both sentenced after admitting burglary and aggravated taking a vehicle without consent in Neston. Nield also admitted breach of an ASBO.

They were both sent to a Young Offenders Institution for 16 months and banned from driving for 12 months.