In the past week, desperate thieves have stolen thousands of pounds worth of copper pipes and wires, expensive paving stones, and even metal gate posts in a series of thefts from homes across the town.

Police investigators and victims believe the incidents could be linked to the downturn in the global economy, as more and more people struggle to make ends meet in an increasingly uncertain economic climate.

Sgt Alison Harris, of Chorley's neighbourhood policing team, said: "We have seen an increase in thefts of building material from properties in Chorley and we believe it could be linked to the economic climate.

"We are aware that there is a big increase in the value of metal generally due to the credit crunch.

"We are targeting areas where metal and building material that is vulnerable to be taken.

"This includes scrapyards and building sites and we are also making scrapyards aware that we will not tolerate stolen metal being accepted by them."

One amateur property developer, who didn't want to be named, thinks hard-up builders are to blame after 20 York paving stones worth hundreds of pounds were stolen from the back yard of his house in Bannerman Terrace, this week.

The homeowner, who works as a painter and decorator, said: "This is the first buy-to-let property I have bought and it has been a very big investment for me.

"I bought the property as a wreck about four years ago and I've been working on it in my spare time to get it ready to rent it out. The last thing I need is for this to happen.

"I know that people are struggling at the minute, even in my line of work there is just no work out there - things are drying up. But it doesn't mean I'm going to start ripping up people's paving stones.

"Stealing is not the answer. We all have bills to pay and this kind of thing can't help anyone."

In a separate incident, pipes worth around £2,500 and copper wire worth around £2,000 were stolen from a house on Mayfield Road.

The house was being renovated at the time and neighbours saw a red Rover 200 reverse down the road at speed with three people inside on Monday evening - the night before the theft was discovered.

Also, a set of gate posts were taken from a house on Yarrow Road in Chorley between 12.30am and 8.30am on Saturday, July 5.

Anyone with information on any of these incidents is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.