HOUSES in Rawdon and Yeadon are being targeted by determined gangs of thieves, say police.

Thieves, put off by sophisticated car alarms, are breaking into houses to steal car keys before making off with the cars.

Now, police are telling people to keep doors locked at all times and hide car keys.

In one case a man chased after a thief as he reversed the car out of the driveway. He had sneaked into the house and grabbed the keys from the kitchen.

The thief took fright, jumped out of the car but left it running and it ran into trees.

The owner of the house in Cleeve Hill, Rawdon, saw his Land Rover being driven out of his driveway at 3.30pm on Friday. He chased after it in his bare feet and managed to scare the driver enough to get out and run off to a waiting Fiat Punto. He is described as between 18 and 23-years-old, 6ft tall and with light brown hair. He was wearing a blue and white teeshirt, blue jeans and white trainers.

l On Monday at 4.13am the owner of a house in Red Wood Grove, Yeadon, disturbed a thief who managed to snatch car keys before getting away.

l A Toyota RAV 4 was stolen from a house in Cricketer's Green, Yeadon, on Saturday at 3.15am. Thieves got into the house through an open window and took the keys. The car was later found abandoned near Armley.

l A parent collecting a child from Hawksworth School at 3.30pm on July 25 had the car radio tampered with. Witnesses saw an 18 to 19-year-old, around 5ft8 and wearing a light coloured teeshirt.

l In South View Crescent, Yeadon, in the early hours of July 26, thieves got in to a house by reaching through the letter box and getting the keys. Two cars were taken and later recovered in Leeds.

Anyone with any information is asked to telephone Crimestoppers on (0800) 555111.