Cool thieves flee with car

Audacious thieves carried out a burglary at a house in Burntwood - and then returned to the scene to steal a car.

The owner - who had been alerted after the raid in which a large haul, including a van from the drive, was taken - had only been back half an hour to inspect the damage when her £30,000 Audi was also stolen.

The thieves had taken the keys in the raid on the house in Belvedere Close.

Insp Ashley Farrington, of Burntwood police, said he had never come across anything like it in 15 years as a police officer."We are considering the possibility that they were watching for the vehicle to come back," he said.

"They have got some real brass neck to do this."

The burglars struck at the house at the weekend.

They forced open a rear door and ransacked the house, taking keys for the Audi and for a Citroen Berlingo van worth £6,000, which they stole.

The owners were told and returned at 11.15am on Sunday in the woman's Audi A4 cabriolet, which she left on the drive.

But within half an hour it was taken.

Inspector Farrington said: "It is a dreadful thing to happen at the best of times, but to begin your new year with this is very, very sad.

"It just shows the great lengths people will go to to steal expensive vehicles."

There was more than £10,000 worth of other property stolen, including brace-lets and necklaces, earrings and a watch.

Also taken were clothes, a mobile phone, CDs, photography equipment, binoculars, wine glasses, bed covers and pillows, fishing equipment and tools.

Police said the house owners were "shocked and distraught".

Witnesses have reported also seeing a blue Subaru vehicle speeding off from the address driven by a white man, aged 28 to 32.

The stolen van's registration is BG05 SZC and the Audi's is V056 UCX

Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 08453 302010.

By Victoria Hoe