Three caught on CCTV as victim’s car is ransacked

THIS is the moment three people were captured on CCTV rifling through an unlocked car on a Cardiff driveway.

The video shows a figure shining a torch into the car parked outside a house in Lisvane before two further people are seen opening its doors and boot.

The car owner, who does not want to be named, said up to six items were taken from the car at about 10pm on Friday.

The 33-year-old said: “The next morning I went to the car and I thought I had left the door open because it was ajar. As I got in everything was open – all the drawers were open and there were bits of paper everywhere.

“All I wanted to know was if any personal information was stolen and if there was any damage to the car.”

The man said the incident has served as an important reminder to lock his car.

He said: “It’s my own fault but it just goes to show how careful you need to be. It’s so easy to take the shopping in and forget to lock the car. I was sat in the living room five metres away.

“Nothing was damaged but it could have been worse. If the car was locked and a laptop was in there they would have smashed the window. Sometimes you get complacent.”

The incident took place on the same night a laptop was taken from a car in Thornhill.

Mark Rausa, 32, said he made aware of the theft early Saturday morning when his rucksack was found near Thornhill Primary School.

The dad of one said he received a call from his parents at 2am after a passerby found the bag with a document inside, and delivered it to their address.

He said: “Once my parents called me to tell me what happened I checked my car and the driver’s door and rear door were left open and the glove box, centre console and ashtray had been disturbed.

“My rucksack had been taken from the boot. My laptop was in the rucksack so it seems they took the bag and then checked through it and then dumped the bag after taking the laptop.”

Mr Rausa said the theft came as a surprise. He said: “We are usually pretty vigilant when it comes to locking up so it’s very strange that the car was unfortunately unlocked. One theory is that our two-year-old son was playing with our keys and may have unlocked the car.”

South Wales Police said an investigation into the incidents is continuing.

A spokesman said: “We encourage people to secure their vehicles as we know that thieves will look for easy targets.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers quoting 313543.