Heartbreak as classic car stolen
A heartbroken Black Country pensioner has had his pride and joy classic car stolen. Alan Hackett, of Rowley Regis, has owned the Daytona yellow Ford Escort RS since it was new in 1974.
The car has been lovingly maintained and the owner believes it is worth up to £15,000.
He paid £1,800 for it when new. It was stolen from his garage despite strong security measures and Mr Hackett believes it was specifically targeted by a professional gang. The 70-year-old was 35 when he bought the car, which has a black vinyl roof that was all the rage at the time.
It was stolen from the garage off The Avenue on the Brickhouse Farm estate, close to his home in Farm Road, in the early hours of July 31. Police have so far had no luck in finding it prompting Mr Hackett to put up a £2,000 reward for information that would lead to the return of the car and the arrest and conviction of the thieves.
Mr Hackett, a retired storekeeper for Sandwell Council, said: "I bought it brand new in August 1974, exactly 35 years ago this month.
"It's done 91,000 miles which is good for a car its age. I've never needed to spend a lot on it because I have just taken good care of it. I tend to do about 1,000 miles a year."
Mr Hackett, a bachelor, said he was surprised the car was taken because he had fitted locks and an immobiliser. He said: "They must have used a trailer to get it away. I think the car was stolen to order for the thieves to go all that trouble.
"Needless to say I am devastated and I desperately want to get it back."
Earlier this year police warned that high performance sports cars are being stolen to order across the Black Country by a network of criminals who are exporting them to Africa and Eastern Europe.
They say low level criminals are being targeted by big time players to steal cars which are then spirited out of the country where they are sold on the black market. Anyone with information is urged to call Old Hill police station on 0845 113 5000.
