South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2006 | March | 3
From the archive, first published Friday 3rd Mar 2006.
ROBBERS bizarrely left more than 50 valuable vintage cars untouched but stole one modern car in a midnight raid on a Coalpit Heath garage.
In a raid on Auto Classico, based in Henfield Industrial Estate, thieves chose to steal a silver Volkswagen Passat estate car worth less than £10,000 and £300 of petty cash - instead of thousands of pounds worth of rare classic cars.
It is believed the robbers broke into the garage sometime between last Friday night and Saturday morning.
They forced entry into the car and smashed through an electronic steel gate, the garage's only exit.
The break in has left garage owner Mike Mercer relieved but surprised.
He told the Gazette this week: "It is surprising why the thieves decided to take the Volkswagen. We think that because they could have been teenagers, the older cars may not have appealed so much to them."
The thieves also broke into the garage office and stole petty cash and a digital camera.
"We have been here 12 years and this is the first time we have been broken into, it is all a bit of shock," Mr Mercer said.
"It was a shame the car was stolen as it was due to be given to a new owner after already being sold."
Mr Mercer said that he was not going to give up hope of seeing the car again.
He said: "We have heard no reports as yet of it burnt out somewhere so I still hope to see it again. It is a nice, tidy car."
Sgt Andy McIlrath, of Chipping Sodbury Police, told the Gazette on Wednesday that there was a good chance the car would be found. He said that stolen cars were usually recovered within days but were often found damaged.
The stolen car's registration is GV52 NKW.
Anybody with information should contract Chipping Sodbury Police on 0117 9455926 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008