Baseball bat thugs make off with Audi

Masked car-jackers threatened a man with a baseball bat until he handed over the keys to his £57,000 Audi and a £300 mobile phone in Lichfield.

The 35-year-old victim was approached from behind by two muggers who shouted out their demands as he locked up in Greenhough Road.

He tried to run away but fell over, so one youth who was wearing a hooded top and scarf over his lower face, pushed the bat to his right temple, forcing him to hand over the keys to the grey Audi Quattro and a Nokia phone.Police today admitted Lichfield was a car crime hotspot for organised gangs who were targeting luxury models before fleeing the area. The latest victim, who did not want to be named, was left shaken and with minor cuts from the attack on Wednesday at around 5.15pm.

His car was found within an hour with the keys still in it in Castle Bromwich, after a police chase. The gang had already ripped out a tracker device and changed the number plates.

"I was clearly a target for some time and I didn't have time to think, I just tried to run," he said.

"I saw two hooded blokes with a baseball bat running towards me and I felt frightened. My first thought was for my daughter."

The victim has now sold his car and bought a more family-friendly alternative, in the hope of staving off future attacks.