A BMW M3 Sports car was stolen from the driveway of Cheadle Town Councillor Dennis Wilson on Froghall Road during the early hours of 27 August. The theft follows a similar incident earlier in the year when a BMW was taken from a nearby property on Highfield Avenue near the junction with Froghall Road.
How the theft occurred
The criminals broke through the rear of Cllr Wilson's home and professionally removed the euro-style lock. They then searched the property to locate the car keys, which were well secured inside.
Upon discovering the theft the following morning, Cllr Wilson used a mobile phone tracking app to locate the vehicle. The app showed the car was parked in Didcot, approximately two and a half hours' drive from Cheadle.
GPS disabled at Didcot location
When Cllr Wilson drove to the Didcot location indicated by the tracking app, the BMW M3 was not present. Cllr Wilson, who has worked in the auto trade throughout his life, believes the criminals chose Didcot as the location to disable the vehicle's GPS.
Cllr Wilson described the stolen car as his pride and joy, representing years of hard work. He and his wife are distressed that criminals entered their home and searched through their belongings while they slept upstairs.
Police investigation and security advice
Staffordshire Police and forensics attended the property the following day to gather evidence and document the crime. Anyone with information about the theft or the disabling of the GPS should report it to the police.
Residents with luxury vehicles are advised to check their home security and seek professional vehicle security advice. Cllr Wilson has made the thefts public to raise awareness among the community.
