CLASSIC THEFT CRISIS ‘WORSE THAN IN 2017’

Sixteen Fords have been snatched so far this year – and crime experts are blaming it on gangs stealing the cars to order

A ‘heart-breaking’ Sierra XR4i theft in Birmingham is the latest in a spate of incidents involving criminals targeting classics, with older Fords dominating the list of cars taken since the start of the year.

Dr Ken German, a vehicle crime consultant and former head of the Stolen Car Squad with the Metropolitan Police, says that classic car thefts have increased year-on-year, with Porsche and Jaguar models also being stolen.

He says: ‘The thieves are part of a gang, operating under a taskmaster and stealing to order. The gangs are getting more plentiful, and more organised, and the police are so stretched at the moment that they just can’t deal with it.’