Motorist’s VW Golf is stolen from test bay after thief shoves mechanic over before speeding off
Emma Shepherd, 32, had taken her £11,000 VW Golf for its annual MOT and received a call at 2.20pm expecting to be told her car had passed
A MOTORIST was horrified after she took her car for an MoT test at Halfords - only to be told it had been stolen.
Emma Shepherd, 32, took her £11,000 VW Golf to a Halfords garage at 12.35pm - and at 2.20pm it had been stolen.
Mechanics called Emma and she feared they were ringing to say the car had failed its test - but instead she was told it had been nicked.
Mum-of three Emma said: “I am just really shocked and thought it was all a joke at first. I dropped it off for an MoT and now it’s been stolen. I just cannot believe it.
“It was stolen off the MoT test bay whilst in their possession and they have got no CCTV. It is quite shocking.
“I got a call from Halfords at around 2.20pm. They said they had some awful news. I thought the car had failed its MoT but they said the car had been stolen.
I just could not believe it. They said they had rang the police and I was told to come down as soon as possible.
“Apparently the person came into the test centre and into a work yard, pushed a mechanic out of the way then jumped into the car and nearly ran him over as he stole the car.
The police have been in touch and I have given them an account. Apparently a mechanic was injured too.
“I have been told it was having its MoT at the time and the keys were in the car because they were testing emissions.”
The opportunist thief is thought to have struck after employees left the engine running - or the keys in the ignition.
But the white Golf Match with the private registration number X666 ECS, is still missing.
Medic Emma relied on the car - worth £11,000 - to get her to work at Salford Royal hospital.
The thief also made off with her youngest child’s pram and car seat, as well as an iPod which were all inside the car.
She has now written to the chief executive of Halfords to complain.
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A Halfords Autocentres spokesman said: “We can confirm that there was an incident at our Rochdale branch on Saturday.
“The safety and security of our customers and colleagues is a priority.
“We are helping the police with their enquiries and are unable to comment further at this stage.”
GMP have confirmed they are investigating the theft.