Stolen car found dumped in Bentilee three hours after thief jumped in and drove off

30/11/2023

A stolen car was found abandoned on a Stoke-on-Trent estate after a man jumped in and drove off. The red Renault Clio had been left running in Birchfield Road, Abbey Hulton,[1] when an opportunist thief got in the driver’s side and sped away. Around three hours later, at 9pm on Friday (November 24), the car was found dumped on Chelmsford Drive, Bentilee [2].

The suspect was described as a white man who was wearing a black hat and a black jacket. A Staffordshire Police [3] spokesman said: “We are appealing for information after a car was stolen whilst it was left running in Stoke-on-Trent. We are currently reviewing CCTV of the area at the time of the theft and carrying out forensics on the car.”

That incident came just days before a silver Vauxhall Corsa was taken after the owner left the keys in the ignition while it defrosted. Police were called to an address near Ash Bank Road, Werrington, at just before 8.30am on Sunday (November 26). The force spokesman added: “The owner left the keys in the ignition whilst the car defrosted, prompting an opportunist to steal it.

“We are carrying out house-to-house enquiries and looking at CCTV footage at the time of the theft to find out more.” Anyone with information or dashcam footage on the Abbey Hulton theft, call 101, quoting incident 629 of November 24, or message on Live Chat on the force website. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

References

^ Abbey Hulton, (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Bentilee (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Staffordshire Police (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
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