'We woke up to find half the car we'd just sold missing'

The car was left a wreck following the theft -Credit:Supplied
The car was left a wreck following the theft -Credit:Supplied


A couple woke up to find half the car they were about to drop off with its new owners missing - after it was stripped by thieves overnight. Rory Tymon, 31, and Natalia Bajon, 29, who live in Winton, Salford, discovered the bonnet, panels and other bits from the front of the Volkswagen T-Roc had been nicked.

The couple left the vehicle parked in its usual spot on Vaughan Street - in front of Winton Dental Practice - near their home. They reckon it was targeted between 9.30pm on Wednesday (April 24) and 6am on Thursday.

Rory, who works as a radiographer, said the car was leased under his name, but the paperwork had recently been transferred to another person. He was planning to drop the car off at its new owner's house - before finding it had been stripped.

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He said: "The car had been sold and I was about to drive it to the new owner's house at 6.30am. I got to the car and was like 'oh my God'. It was a shock.

"They've taken the front bumper, the lights, the radiator, the bonnet and parts of the wheel arches and engine - everything from the front."

The state of the car after it was targeted -Credit:Supplied
The state of the car after it was targeted -Credit:Supplied

Rory said Natalia's brother, who they live with, broke the news after arriving home from a night shift, adding: "He walked up and said 'I'm not sure how to say this... but half your car is missing'.

"I said to Natalia 'am I still sleeping? Am I dreaming?'. We stood there looking at it with our mouths open for a while and then called the police."

Greater Manchester Police told the Manchester Evening News the the incident was reported at 6.30am. A spokesperson said the case remains 'active', but that lines of enquiry have been exhausted. If new evidence comes to light, officers will investigate, they added.

"It's an unbelievable situation to be in," Rory added. "[The new owner] hasn't even driven the car and he's already having to go through insurance on writing it off."

Rory said he suspects a gang is behind the crime. He added: "The road next to it is the main road going through Eccles and it's a very busy area. I don't know how they did it without anyone seeing. I can't imagine it's a single person."