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Sutton Coldfield man's disbelief after car stripped twice | Sutton Coldfield man's disbelief after car stripped twice |
(33 minutes later) | |
Jeremy Merckel believes car stripping is an "epidemic" | |
A man whose car was stripped of parts outside his home said he felt disbelief that it had happened for a second time. | A man whose car was stripped of parts outside his home said he felt disbelief that it had happened for a second time. |
Jeremy Merckel's Volkswagen Golf (GTI) was targeted again in the early hours of last Wednesday outside his home in Sutton Coldfield, where a man was caught on camera carrying the bumper down the street. | |
"I don't know how to stop this from happening again, it seems to be an epidemic," Mr Merckel said. | |
West Midlands Police said it was committed to identifying and arresting those responsible for stripping parts from parked cars. | West Midlands Police said it was committed to identifying and arresting those responsible for stripping parts from parked cars. |
The man was captured carrying the car part on a door camera | The man was captured carrying the car part on a door camera |
Mr Merckel was first a victim of the offence, which known as car cannibalism, in September 2023. He said his insurance had almost doubled as a result. | |
He said he had received a crime number from police but heard nothing else. | He said he had received a crime number from police but heard nothing else. |
It happened to his car for a second time last week. He said this time police had visited him and took a statement. | It happened to his car for a second time last week. He said this time police had visited him and took a statement. |
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "We are investigating after a car was stripped of its parts - widely known as car cannibalism. | A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "We are investigating after a car was stripped of its parts - widely known as car cannibalism. |
The force added that CCTV inquiries were ongoing to identify who was responsible. | The force added that CCTV inquiries were ongoing to identify who was responsible. |
Mr Merckel said two other people on his street had also had their cars stripped in the past. | |
"It just makes me really angry, because it is my car, my property and people think they can just help themselves," he added. | "It just makes me really angry, because it is my car, my property and people think they can just help themselves," he added. |
Jeremy Merckel's car was stripped of its bumper and other parts | |
Mr Merckel's car was taken to be repaired at PJ Rhodes Repairs in the town. | |
Keith Ward from the garage said it was "not a victimless crime". | Keith Ward from the garage said it was "not a victimless crime". |
He said: "For us as a business, yeah it's great but what it will do will put our business insurance up as well as our personal insurance if we park on the premises." | He said: "For us as a business, yeah it's great but what it will do will put our business insurance up as well as our personal insurance if we park on the premises." |
Mr Ward added that ironically, one of their pick-up trucks had been stripped of some of its parts on Sunday night. | Mr Ward added that ironically, one of their pick-up trucks had been stripped of some of its parts on Sunday night. |
"These guys are incredibly quick and in the main they don't cause damage," he said. | "These guys are incredibly quick and in the main they don't cause damage," he said. |
The garage saw a spike in these cases after the Covid pandemic but it was mainly smaller vehicles such as Vauxhall Corsas. | The garage saw a spike in these cases after the Covid pandemic but it was mainly smaller vehicles such as Vauxhall Corsas. |
Now Jaguars and Range Rovers were being hit, Mr Ward said. | Now Jaguars and Range Rovers were being hit, Mr Ward said. |
Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |