Audacious thief snatches car while it is being MOT’d
AN opportunist thief stole a car from a Halfords autocentre - while it was being MOT’d.
Emma Shepherd’s distinctive VW Golf was parked in a testing bay at the time.
She believes the engine was running, or the keys had been left in the ignition, at Halfords on Liley Street in Rochdale at the time.
Halfords bosses confirmed they are helping police with their enquiries.
The car, a white Golf Match with the private registration number X666 ECS, is still missing.
Emma, a mum-ofthree from Milnrow, relies on the car to get to work at Salford Royal Hospital, where she’s an associate practitioner in cardiology.
She’s written to the chief executive of Halfords to complain.
Emma said: “It was stolen off the MOT test bay whilst in their possession and they have got no CCTV. It is quite shocking.
“I am just really shocked and thought it was all a joke at first. I dropped it off for an MOT and now it’s been stolen. I just cannot believe it.”
Emma, 32, said the car was worth £11,000. Her son’s pram and car seat were inside, together with an iPod, CDs, toys, books and prescription sunglasses.
The car was dropped off at the autocentre at around 12.35pm on Saturday after Emma prepaid £30 for the MOT.
She said: “I got a call from Halfords at around 2.20pm. They said they had some awful news.
“I thought the car had failed its MOT but they said the car had been stolen.
“I just could not believe it. They said they had rang the police and I was told to come down as soon as possible.
“Apparently the person came into the test centre and into a work yard, pushed a mechanic out of the way then jumped into the car and nearly ran him over as he stole the car.
“The police have been in touch and I have given them an account. Apparently a mechanic was injured too.
“I have been told it was having its MOT at the time and the keys were in the car because they were testing emissions.”
A Halfords Autocentres spokesman said: “We can confirm that there was an incident at our Rochdale branch on Saturday.
“The safety and security of our customers and colleagues is a priority.
“We are helping the police with their enquiries and are unable to comment further at this stage.”