Warning as thieves tow away cars

Cars abandoned at Black Country roadsides by drivers stuck in snow have been stolen. At least two cars have been towed away by thieves using trucks, police said today.

One was a Vauxhall Vectra left in a ditch while it awaited legitimate recovery and taken from the Keyway, in Willenhall, between last Wednesday and Friday.

Two more cars were stolen while their owners left the engine running in the Bentley and Beechdale areas.

Pc Paul Talbot, of Brownhills Road Policing Unit, said officers would be stepping up their efforts to combat criminals capitalising on the weather.

"We will also be targeting all recovery vehicles to ensure they are legitimate and licensed and not involved in theft."

Reports of obstacles in the road holding up traffic have snowballed in the cold snap.

Workers at Dudley Council have been inundated with requests from police to shift giant snowballs left in the middle of major routes.

Winter service manager, Mike Bosworth, said the "craze" could pose big dangers to drivers.

Up to one-and-a-half inches of snow is expected in the region tonight before temperatures begin to rise and a thaw sets in.