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Thieves dash off with half a car

Lucy McGuire
10/ 4/2008

PENSIONER Melvin Hall was left stunned when he discovered thieves had stolen half his car.

Melvin, 69 of Leigh Road, Boothstown, woke up to find his W-reg silver Fiat Punto stripped of its headlights, radio, lock, steering wheel and radiator.

Police say the bizarre incident was ‘clearly a calculated theft’. It is thought such cars are worth more as spares and are more difficult to trace than an entire car which has a registration number and VIN plate.

Melvin claims the insurance estimator who removed what was left of his vehicle said cars of this model and age are increasingly being targeted in this way.

Mr Hall told the Advertiser: "My wife had been to the toilet in the night and said ‘there’s a fella in the driveway’.

"I went to the window, shouted to him and he ran off.

"I then shouted down the road at him and he continued running.

"It was then I put my hand down the side of the car and realised the bonnet had gone.

"I couldn‘t believe what I was seeing."

The vehicle was removed and taken to accident repair centre, UK assistance, in Kansas Avenue, where it was declared a £3,000 write-off.

Although the estimator allegedly said he had seen incidents in the area like this before, the company declined to comment.

Mr Hall said: "The car was in tip top condition and I’m really quite angry about it.

"The only thing my wife said was the man had a woolly hat on and a dark coat.

"The person who did it wants their hands chopping off."

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "This was clearly a calculated theft, the offender has gone to a lot of effort to strip this vehicle and steal its parts which has obviously caused the owner a lot of distress.

"We would appeal to anyone who is offered these parts from anyone other than a licensed car dealer to contact police.

"I would also appeal to anyone who saw anybody acting suspiciously in and around the area around the time of the incident."

Anyone with information is urged to call police on: 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on: 0800 555 111.