Unlocked Audi stolen while man withdraws cash in Romsley

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A DRIVER had his car stolen after leaving the keys in the side pocket of the driver's door and the vehicle unlocked while he went to use a cash machine in Romsley.

The incident happened at around 2.30pm on Wednesday afternoon (January 16) outside the Spar on St Kenelm's Road.

The car, which was taken, was a dark blue Audi A4 Quattro estate with the registration number WR02 NRN.

The driver saw two men crossing the road - one got into the car and then drove off at speed, stopping only to pick up the other man.

The vehicle has not yet been recovered.

Both men were white and aged around 19 or 20. One was 5ft 8ins to 5ft 11ins tall, thin, wearing a dark baseball cap and what are thought to be white tracksuit trousers. The second man was 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins tall, with short brown hair. He was wearing dark clothing.

This latest incident happened a day before a similar one in Barnt Green when a man in Mearse Lane had his Volkswagen Golf taken from his driveway.

He had left the engine running to defrost the windows when the thieves struck. Luckily, on that occasion, the driver got the car back after it was recovered by police an hour later in Wythall.

PC Chris Evans, from West Mercia Police, said: "As well as drivers leaving engines running to defrost cars or leaving them insecure while they use a cash machine, as in these latest cases, we have also occasionally had vehicles stolen while their owners are posting a letter, delivering a parcel or nipping into a shop to buy a newspaper.

"The bottom line is vehicles should never be left insecure and with the keys in.

"It only takes a few seconds for an opportunist thief to jump in and drive off, which not only is costly and inconvenient for the owner, but puts others in danger as stolen vehicles are usually driven off at speed and with little regard for the safety of other road users."

Witnesses or anyone with any information on the Romsley incident should call PC Evans on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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