Police slammed after watching MINI Cooper being stolen – because they thought thieves were council workers
Two PCSOs allegedly stood by as the crooks loaded the car onto the back of a truck, claiming the council had ordered for it to be removed
AN OUTRAGED motorist has slammed police for letting thieves steal his prized MINI Cooper after they were mistaken for council workers.
The blundering officers allegedly stood by as the motor was loaded onto the back of a truck near the owner's home in Cwmcarn, South Wales.
Michael Collison, 59, was phoned by a neighbour to be told two mystery men had loaded his car onto the back of a trailer next to two Police Community Support Officers (PCSO).
Mr Collison then reported the 2002 MINI, which was being renovated at the time, as stolen and police launched an investigation.
Mr Collison had the car declared statutorily off road in December in order to renovate it and make it roadworthy, keeping it on a patch of unused land near his home.
, the PCSO's believed the crooks were operating a recovery truck to remove the MINI on council instructions, claiming it was "abandoned".
The thieves allegedly told officers they had been asked to take the car away by a council employee, despite not having keys or any paperwork.
But the council never issued any such order for it to be removed, and after almost two months of investigation, the car and crooks were tracked down.
Police told Collison the two men involved still believed they had removed the car as per council instruction, and that the "vehicle (had) since been stripped for parts."
The pair allegedly said they were paid £80 by a man called "Geoff", who they assumed worked for the council, to move two “abandoned cars”, including Mr Collison’s Mini.
While it's currently unclear if the thieves have been charged, the car's owner has now demanded an apology from officers.
He said: "There were two officers there. It’s like the force is trying to hide their mistake.
"They made no effort to check whether they had the right to take the car, even though they had no paperwork or keys.
"Why can’t they just admit that they’ve messed up and apologise?"
latest motors news
Gwent Police has admitted two PCSOs were on the road when Mr Collison's car was taken on August 11.
A spokesman said: "The officers were made aware of a recovery vehicle removing two vehicles from the area.
"At the time, officers had no evidence of any criminal activity taking place.
"One of vehicles was subsequently reported as stolen, and enquiries are ongoing in relation to this matter."