Blackburn thieves chased off with a slipper on TV (From Blackburn Citizen)

Blackburn thieves chased off with a slipper on TV

11:00am Saturday 23rd March 2013 in News By Vanessa Cornall, Crime reporter

FOOTAGE of a homeowner chasing off thieves after catching them trying to break into her home shown on Crimewatch has brought in several new leads.

Detectives from Blackburn’s Target Team visited the BBC One show to appeal for information about the identity of five would-be thieves as they searched for a way to break into a house in the Witton area of Blackburn.

But the gang got more than they bargained for when the homeowner opened her front door and threw her slipper at them. She chased them down her drive before one hurled the slipper back in her direction.

DS Eric Halford, who is leading the investigation, said the appeal received the highest number of calls on Thursday night’s show.

He said: “We have had loads of calls and seven different names given to us. Of those, two names are looking very promising and we are in talks with a different force who are analysing the footage and hope to make another positive ID.”

The appeal showed the gang arriving at the house in Mavis Road in a red Vauxhall Astra VXR on September 12 around 2.30pm. The Astra had a broken driver's side wing mirror.

A man in a distinctive patterned cap got out and rang the doorbell. After getting no response the four others joined him and they walked up the side passage of the house.

The man in the cap climbed over the back gate before letting the other men through. Two then tried to force open the back door.

After failing to get in they retreated and then tried prise open the front door, which is when the owner came out.

Police said they thought the men were targeting houses for Asian jewellery.