THIEVES made off with a massive haul of £60,000 worth of equipment, including eight cars, after striking at a vehicle rental base in Old Trafford.

Now police are warning people to be on the lookout for anyone selling a relatively new vehicle at a cut-price cost.

The culprits gained entry into the Thrifty premises on Warwick Road between 1pm on Saturday and just before 8am on Sunday. They appear to have broken in through a rear fence and yard before forcing locks and opening a rear fire door. They searched the rooms before taking several electrical items from the building.

These included: eight computers valued at around £1,000 each, a video, a printer, a digital camera, a 21-inch CCTV monitor and camera, as well as a power jet washer.

The thieves also took eight cars which police are hoping to track before they are sold or used in other crimes.

The list of vehicles taken includes: a V-reg blue Fiat Punto; a V-reg four-wheel drive Daihatsu; an S-reg silver Daewoo; an R-reg silver Toyota Previa; a K-reg blue Ford Mondeo; a grey Fiat Punto; a silver Fiat Alhambra and a Renault Laguna.

DS Phill Wrenn from the crime management unit at Stretford told SUM: "We would urge people to be wary of anyone selling a similar car to any of the above.

"It is likely that the thieves will want to make a quick sale or alternatively sell parts off."

He went on: "It is also possible that the cars may be used for crimes in the area and anyone who may know the identity of the culprits or the whereabouts of the vehicles is asked to call 856-7666."

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