THIEVES who burgled a family’s house in January have now returned to steal their car.

The two men used a key stolen in the first raid to try to drive away the vehicle from the home.

Although the pair were forced to flee empty-handed, they caused £8,500 of damage as they tried to get the Lexus hybrid off the Farrar family’s drive in Maple Avenue, Oakworth, near Keighley.

They smashed into the family's other two cars and crashed the Lexus through the garage doors, then ran away as the householders shouted at them.

Gavin Farrar, who runs Keighley training body Confianza, was left counting the cost of the 10-minute rampage.

Mr Farrar was at home with wife Amie, daughters Georgia, 12, and Riannon, 11, and baby son Ellis.

MORE TOP STORIES

The drama began at around 4.30am on Monday in the driveway, where the Lexus CT 200 was penned in by the Farrar’s 20-year-old Range Rover and a Citroen Picasso.

Mr Farrar said: “The men attempted to steal the car while it was parked on the drive but the other two cars had blocked it in.

“They used the Lexus as a dodgem. They tried to drive it through the other cars. They couldn’t get it past my Range Rover because it’s like a stone. They caused devastation.

“My wife was woken by the big crash as they went through the garage door. She put her head out of the window and shouted at them and they ran away.

“Riannon sleeps over the garage and she was terrified. When she heard the noise she jumped out of bed.

“My neighbour was on the phone to the police. She was telling police the men were on the driveway.”

By the time police arrived the men had fled the scene, running down Maple Avenue towards Station Road.

Mr Farrar believes the thieves had bided their time after breaking into his house in January.

He added: “We didn’t think anything had been stolen but we couldn’t find one of our car keys. We thought we’d misplaced it.

“The men have probably been back to look a few times, but there was no way they could have got the Lexus out because it was parked up behind the other cars.

“On Monday there was a slightly bigger gap so they must have decided to chance their arm.”

Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team are appealing for witnesses to the incident.

Acting Inspector Diane Collins said: “This appears to have been a targeted incident in the early hours, when the suspects clearly thought they wouldn't be heard or seen as they attempted to make off with the vehicle.

"We would urge anyone who was in the area and saw anything suspicious to contact us. Enquiries are ongoing."

Anyone who may have seen the incident, between 4.30am and 5am on Monday, or has information that may help the police, should contact Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.