A gang of suspected car thieves were caught on camera smashing into a hatchback in a Birmingham street - just minutes after they are believed to have targeted the same brand nearby. The group, all dressed in black with hoods up and wearing masks, are seen on CCTV approaching a white BMW 1 Series Sport in Berryfields Road in Sutton Coldfield shortly before 9am on Sunday (April 10).
Two remain on the pavement while one runs to the driver’s door and crouches, pulling a piece of the car trim away and throwing it into the road. A car drives by but the criminals are undeterred.
They then smash the window, with glass fragments scattering on the road. They can be seen putting their head into the vehicle. After just short of 90 seconds, the trio runoff.
Read more: Thieves steal car off drive but lose out to stealth security
The car’s owner, Reece Canning, 24, and his partner, Nona Harrington, 25, were then contacted by police around 10 minutes after the incident after a neighbour is believed to have called 999. They were believed to be ‘in the area’ at the time of the incident but were not able to find those responsible.
Nona told BirminghamLive: “It was about 8.50am on Sunday (April 10). The police came around at 9am and told us someone has smashed a window on our car which was parked in Berryfields Road.
“I was like ‘oh my god, really?’. They had run down the road and smashed another BMW too just down from where our car was.
“We didn’t hear the alarm go off in the car. They knew what they were doing.
“They messed with the wires. My partner, Reece, had to fix it. The other guy’s car, also a BMW, had something similar happen to it and wouldn’t start afterwards.
Nona continued: “When we were cleaning up the glass, a neighbour said he had got CCTV and asked us if we wanted it. It’s quite scary when you think about it. It was in broad daylight and I could have been near to the car.
“It’s a family car and we have a little one, a daughter aged four. Her car seats in the front. They could see that and they don’t care.
“The police gave us a crime number. We got the footage a few hours after. The police said they think the group were heading towards Tamworth in Staffordshire.”
She added: “It’s horrible. It’s not safe anymore. I can’t believe they have got away with it. Usually, there are dog walkers at that time, a lot of them.
“I now keep looking outside. I didn’t sleep on Sunday night. The insurance wants £250 which is the excess but we are going to get it done ourselves.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We were told about this incident and the crime has been recorded as vehicle interference. Sadly there are no forensic evidence opportunities at this time.
"If you recognise anyone from the CCTV please call police on 101 quoting 20/359307/22." Alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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