‘MATE, WHERE HAVE YOUR WHEELS GONE?’
AMAN returned to his car to find two of the wheels had been stolen – with the vehicle left propped up on a small car jack. James Mills had been enjoying dinner and a trip to the cinema with his girlfriend Emily Cole at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay but made the shocking discovery as he returned to his car on Friday night.
The incident has now been reported to South Wales Police.
James said: “I was just about to open the car when a guy said: ‘Mate, where have your wheels gone?’”
The 25-year-old from Milford Haven was staying with his girlfriend Emily, a student, in Cardiff, before catching the train to London to do some volunteering.
They parked the car at about 9pm and returned at around 11.30pm.
The pair discovered the front and rear wheels on the driver’s side had disappeared and the car had been left propped up on the small car jack.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said James. “You just don’t expect to come back and find your wheels have gone.
“It wasn’t obvious because the car was propped up, so it was the same height as all the others in the car park. I very nearly just climbed straight in.”
He bought the Ford Focus Sport in February and it is two and a half years old.
James had brand new front tyres and is expecting a new set of wheels to cost around £500.
The pair called for recovery and his car now has temporary wheels that will get him home to Milford Haven when he returns from London on Tuesday.
James, who works as a customer service engineer for BT, is volunteering at The Patrons Lunch – an event in St James’s Park celebrating the Queen’s birthday.
He managed to make it to London on an early train yesterday morning, despite getting less than two hours’ sleep.
“I just can’t believe someone would do it,” said James. “It was still light when we parked up.”
He immediately reported the incident to South Wales Police. Anyone with information should call police on 101.