FOUR alleged Inverclyde car thieves have stolen nearly 30 vehicles across the district and elsewhere in less than six months, prosecutors claim.

Darren Arthur, Joseph Owens, Sean McAulay and Andrew Rennie are said to have targeted only Ford cars and vans between last October and April.

The accused quartet struck in various parts of Inverclyde - mostly in Greenock and Port Glasgow - as well as Renfrewshire and Glasgow, the Crown says.

It is alleged that Arthur, 32, Owens, 26, McAulay, 25, and Rennie, 23, stole vehicles in Inverkip, Bishopton, Linwood, Johnstone, Erskine, Paisley, Hillington, Cumbernauld and Mount Florida.

The men are said to have stolen more than a dozen Ford Fiestas, several Transit vans, three Kugas, two Focus's and a Mondeo.

It is alleged that they also entered another Ford Transit van and tried to start its engine in an attempt to steal it.

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The first of 30 charges on an indictment libelled against the men alleges that they stole a Ford Kuga from Arran Avenue in the Port between December 11 and 12, 2022.

Several of the alleged offences are said to have been committed while Owens and Rennie were on court bail orders.

The alleged theft spree is said to have begun two months earlier when the quartet are said to have taken a Ford Transit box van from a car park in Greenock's Roxburgh Street between October 26 and 27 last year.

Further alleged thefts are said to have followed in November from the Greenock Health and Care Centre car park and Montrose Avenue in the Port, while eight vehicles were allegedly taken in December.

The most recent alleged offence is said to have occurred on April 1, 2023 when a vehicle was reportedly stolen from Hillington on the outskirts of Glasgow.

According to the indictment, Arthur of Glenhuntly Terrace in Port Glasgow, also caused a crash by driving a car dangerously in Greenock and the Port on January 22 this year.

He is said to have repeatedly swerved in front of another vehicle, a white Ford Fiesta, forcing the driver to take evasive action.

It is alleged that Arthur, represented by solicitor Aidan Gallagher, braked sharply in front of the car to cause a collision.

Owens, of Bridgend Cottages, Inverkip, McAulay, of Kilmacolm Road in Greenock, Rennie, of Cathcart Street in the town and Arthur made no plea during petition hearings in private at Greenock Sheriff Court.

Sheriff James Varney continued matters for further examination and allowed bail.

A date for the next calling of the case is to be confirmed.