RESIDENTS are being urged to report sightings of a van believed to be used by Romanian men responsible for thefts across Barrow and other parts of the UK.

The van, with the registration W5 LLC, was formerly owned by LH Carpentry, but since the owner scrapped it the vehicle is believed to have been used by thieves.

Various reports on social media link the van, driven by a group of Romanian men, with a spate of thefts across the UK.

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week the van was spotted in Barrow and at least one theft has been reported to police.

Four alloy wheels were stolen from a backyard in Howe Street and a number of other addresses have been targeted.

The owner of LH Carpentry has since reported the issue to police after being made aware his former van, which still bears his signs and name, was being used by the thieves.

He urged witnesses to call police and wrote on his Facebook page: "I can assure you it's nothing to do with us we sold the van for scrap and as far has we knew it had been scrapped."

Anyone who spots the van or has information about the people responsible is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.