Malcolm stranded by car thieves

The thieves walked through Malcolm Sommers' unlocked front door in Wainwright Avenue, Richmond, took the key out of the door and drove off.

They even calmly replaced the rest of the keys in the lock before fleeing with the red Vauxhall Astra.

Malcolm's stepson Paul Rippon said: "My stepfather has a back condition which means he can't walk very far, so he needs the car and scooter to get about.

"The car is a normal Astra with no special conversions and the scooter is an electric fold-up vehicle that he uses to get about town and other places.

"It will mean he is having to wait several weeks before he gets another one through the insurance. It's a long time to wait when you can't walk very far.

"He is not wheelchair-bound but very wobbly on his feet, so he relies on the car and scooter."

Mr Rippon said his stepdad had momentarily left the door unlocked after putting the cat out and the theft must have happened when he was in the house at around dusk.

A police spokeswoman said: "We are investigating a sneak in burglary during which intruders stole keys to a motorbility car from an address in Wainwright Avenue, Richmond.

"Intruders entered the property and stole the occupier's car keys. It is believed the car was stolen from the driveway sometime between 12.30pm on Tuesday, August 21 and 6.20am on Wednesday, August 22.

"Part of the owner's mobility scooter was also in the boot car when it was stolen."

She said the Vauxhall Astra had since been recovered but urged anyone with information about the theft call Moss Way Burglary unit on 0114 296 3510 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.