Pensioner’s car full of gifts stolen from Bluewater

An 81- year- old man had his car, full of Christmas presents, stolen from Bluewater car park.

The pensioner had been shopping with his wife and was waiting for her in his new Skoda, with the engine running.

It is reported he was then approached by two men in another vehicle.

These men spoke to the driver, saying there was something dangerous on the back of his car. When the victim got out to have a look, one of the men got in and drove it away.

Just minutes before he had been shopping with his wife, to buy all their Christmas presents. He had a number of bags in the car, while his wife popped back into the centre for some last-minute bits.

PC Paul Growns said: “This was a callous act on a vulnerable person. The car was brandnew and was the first vehicle the victim had bought in more than 20 years.

“There was also a lot of Christmas shopping in the back of the car and what should have been a relaxing happy day out for this couple was ruined by these two individuals and I would urge anyone with information to get in touch.”

Officers were called at 3.48pm on Tuesday, November 15, after the car was stolen from the Lower Thames Walk car park.

A number of inquiries, including checking CCTV and using Automatic Number Plate Recognition to try and trace the offenders, have already been carried out but detectives are hoping witnesses may be able to help.

The stolen vehicle is described as a Jungle Green Skoda Yeti and bore a ‘66’ registration plate. It had just over 200 miles on the clock.

The two suspects are white, one a between 25 and 30 and the other between 35 and 50.

Anyone with information should call police on 01474 366149 quoting reference XY/45719/16.