Car key raiders steal 50 vehicles

Car key raiders have stolen 50 vehicles during house burglaries in Wolverhampton in the past five months, the Express & Star can reveal today.

Detectives are investigating the possibility the same gang could be behind the attacks, where thieves break into homes specifically to steal the keys of usually high performance cars parked outside. Castlecroft, Tettenhall and Wombourne are among the areas that have been targeted in and around Wolverhampton in the past.

The city's magistrates court was told by prosecutor Mrs Maggie Meakin during a case yesterday: "Car crime is a big problem in the Wolverhampton city area.

"Vehicles have been stolen after houses were broken into and car keys taken. There have been over 50 of this type of offence in the Wolverhampton area this year."

In another case, the court heard how a year-old £24,000 Subaru Impreza was stolen from a burgled house in Fordhouses between 11.30pm on Monday night and 6.30am the following day. It was spotted on the Aston Expressway in Birmingham nine hours later, speeding at 80mph, 30 mph above the legal limit.

The saloon was followed by a police car as it headed into Birmingham but lost its pursuers when the driver suddenly slowed and turned to go the wrong way along a dual carriageway heading towards Sutton Coldfield, forcing other motorists to swerve.

The stolen car was later abandoned and a witness rang police to report seeing two people running away on foot.

Peter Nedic, aged 21, from Sandy Crescent, Ashmore Park, was behind the wheel and yesterday admitted dangerous driving, driving a car taken without permission, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

It was made clear, however, that Nedic played no part in the actual burglary or any similar crimes.

Mr Hockham Singh Suthi, defending, said: "The occupants allowed him to go for a drive around the block. Things went downhill from there."

Nedic was bailed pending sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court next month.