‘I paid for my idiocy – with car set ablaze’
AMOTORIST paid a huge price for his moment of “idiocy” when his car was stolen and later found burned out in Southport.
Wayne Walker had gone to check on his calves after being told some had escaped their field when thieves struck to steal his Mercedes-Benz from an Aughton country lane on September 9.
He watched in horror as his car was driven away, only for it be found destroyed by fire the next morning at the former Kew Park and Ride site.
To make matters worse, he will receive no insurance payout after he admitted leaving his keys in the car when he checked on the animals.
Wayne said: “We have animals, we have horses and cows in Aughton. Someone had messaged to say my calves were in the road so I went to see.
“I jumped out my car as I was only going to be two minutes. I checked the calves were back there and they were.
“I was talking on the phone when I saw a car reversing away and I said ‘someone’s stealing my car!’”
He then saw two cars being driven away, his own car and one the thieves had arrived in.”
The car was worth about £2,500 but Wayne says he will face extra costs for the administration involved in replacing his personalised number plate, including needing a new copy of the logbook which was burned inside the car.
Despite having little petrol, he believes the car was driven around the empty park and ride site before being burned out.
“We went to Southport to where it was found and it was a right mess. The bollards were wrecked and the ground between them as well.
“The insurance won’t pay out because the keys were in it. I was a bit of an idiot.
“I also had a watch and clothing in there which I know you shouldn’t do it is what it is.”
Despite checking for CCTV at two nearby houses and the Aldi supermarket, he has no idea who was responsible for the theft and damage and says police have told him the car was too badly damaged for any forensic evidence to be recovered.
Instead, he hopes any witnesses or anyone who saw the car being driven erratically will come forward so the thieves are at least held to account for their actions.
“Its really strange because I wouldn’t normally go out at that time so it’s not as if they could have been watching and waiting.
“It’s a bit heartbreaking really.”
IF anyone has any information that can help with the investigation into the theft please call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.