POLICE are stepping up patrols after a spate of car vandalism in Accrington.

Sergeant Simon Holderness at Accrington Police Station said ‘suspicious characters’ would be searched for concealed tools commonly used for damaging vehicles.

The rear windscreens of a silver Vauxhall Astra and a blue Volkswagen Passat were smashed overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday in Park Road and a black Vauxhall Vectra had its front and back windows smashed at 2.20am on Wednesday.

Sgt Holderness said: “At one time it was common for people to use spark plugs because porcelain will break a window without any sound, so that is one possibility.

“There are also some other tools that we may come across. We will be putting extra patrols on to target vandalism in the area this month and stopping anyone acting suspiciously.”