Car thieves strike over past month in Blantyre

Jan 28 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

POLICE are hunting car thieves following a spate of thefts in Blantyre.

A silver Rover vehicle was stolen from Calder Street on Friday, January 22, between 9am and 4.50pm. The car has yet to be recovered.

Cops are also appealing for witnesses after thieves stole a silver Ford minibus from South Lanarkshire Council’s land services depot in Forrest Street on December 23.

The vehicle had been locked away on December 17 and workers found it was missing when they returned on January 12.

Police later viewed CCTV footage and saw the minibus had been driven away on December 23.

They do not have any descriptions of suspects but are continuing their enquiries.

A police spokesman said: “It is imperative that we try and trace these vehicles.

“Like number plates, stolen vehicles can be used by some who commit further, more serious crimes to try and evade capture.”

In another incident, cars stolen in East Kilbride were found in Blantyre two weeks ago with considerable fire damage.

The incident happened overnight between Tuesday, January 12, and the following day.

The interior of a Ford Ka found in Elm Street in Blantyre was considerably burned.

One witness saw three youths running from the vehicle and alerted police.

A second vehicle, a Volkswagen Golf, was found in Blantyre the same day.

It was found in Auchinraith Road completely burnt out.

The vehicles were two of a number of cars stolen from a vehicle repair shop in Whin Place, East Kilbride.

Three other cars were also taken, but were found nearby.

This week, police in Blantyre appealed to members of the public who may have seen the thieves in or on their way to Blantyre to get in touch.

A police spokesman said: “It is probable that the thieves used the East Kilbride Expressway when travelling to Blantyre in their stolen vehicles, and they may have been spotted several times.

“It is also possible that they may have been driving erratically and at speed, so would have been noticeable at that time of night.”

Anyone with information relating to the thefts should contact Blantyre Police on 202501.