Warning after Ironbridge thieves try to torch stolen car
Thieves stole a car during a burglary in Ironbridge before trying to set it on fire.
The car was taken from a property in Buildwas Road yesterday some time between 8am and 9am. Two sets of keys were taken from the house while the occupants were out, and one set of keys was then used to take a white Renault Laguna Alize DTI off the drive.
When the owners returned home they reported the theft, and about four hours later the vehicle was found abandoned on a dirt track in Sutton Hill, near Sutton Hill Farm.
Police spokesman Chris Ammonds said that it appeared that an unsuccessful attempt had been made to burn the vehicle out.
He said: "Officers investigating this theft are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the vehicle being stolen in Ironbridge, or anyone who may have seen it prior to it being dumped in Sutton Hill.
"Anyone with information about this incident, or the movements of the Renault after it was taken, is asked to contact police in Telford on 101 or 0300 333 3000."
Mr Ammonds said that people should remember to make sure their homes were secure.
"Through the work of the force's burglary initiative, Citadel, we are being very pro-active and we are seeing the results of our focused operational activity every day.
"However, although burglaries do remain relatively rare in Telford & Wrekin, up to half of all burglaries are committed by thieves who enter the house through an unlocked door or an open window," he said.
"Experience tells us that burglars often live reasonably close to their victims. They work a local patch and will return to or near to properties they have already broken into.
"Opportunist thieves will not want to take unnecessary risks to carry out a burglary and therefore there are simple things that everyone can do to make life more difficult for them."
