Dad Ant Page returned to find his wife’s Peugeot 5008 had been ripped apart by car cannibals
Blues fan Ant Page returned from a match to find his car had been decimated by ‘car cannibals’ (Image: Ant Page )
A dad was left ‘annoyed’ after he returned from St Andrew’s stadium to find his wife’s Peugeot had been decimated by car thieves – the third victim to come forward over a shocking crime spree.
Blues season ticket holder Ant Page parked the car in Landor Street ahead of Birmingham City’s 1-1 draw against Southampton on Monday, December 29.
The 55-year-old returned to find the vehicle had been ripped apart by so-called ‘car cannibals’ – with its bumper, headlights and windscreen wipers stolen.
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The thieves, who targeted and stripped at least three cars near the ground during the match, sell stolen parts for quick cash.
Mr Page told BirminghamLive: “I was taking my neighbour to the game. He’s 85 so we try to park as close [to St Andrew’s] as we can.
“It’s about a ten minute walk away. You can’t park right outside the ground because you can’t get in or out.
“It’s my wife’s car and she’s a childminder. So we’re in a bit of a pickle.”
The dad described the situation as “annoying”, adding he was disappointed by the lack of police patrols in the area even though officers had promised to monitor the streets on matchday.
The thefts happened just hours after West Midlands Police said officers would be be present around the ground in a bid to crackdown on vehicle crime.
“You don’t see police around there,” he added. “You only see them up at the ground.”
Another victim, Blues fan David Salliss, returned after the match to find his Peugeot 208 on Trinity Terrace had been stripped of its bumper and bonnet.
Shockingly, it came almost two years to the day after his wife’s car – also a Peugeot – was stripped outside the ground on Boxing Day 2023.
David Salliss discovered his wife’s car decimated outside St Andrew’s stadium (Image: David Salliss )
The 58-year-old urged fans “to be careful” and called on police to step up patrols in surrounding streets.
Southampton fan Steve Ridgley also warned supporters to be vigilant when parking near the ground.
Sharing his friend’s ordeal on social media platform X, he wrote: “Mate’s car stripped during Birmingham Southampton match – Garrison Street near St Andrew’s.
“Football fans visiting St Andrews, do not park your car around this street.”
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A spokesperson for West Midlands Police told BirminghamLive: “We’re investigating after parts were stripped from vehicles parked near St Andrews Knighthead Park during the Birmingham City v Southampton match on Monday, December 29.
“We take this type of crime extremely seriously as we don’t underestimate the impact it has on vehicle owners.
“Our dedicated operation to tackle it, in partnership with Birmingham City, is continuing on matchdays as we patrol key areas and target offenders.
“We’re grateful to fans for their support and would continue to ask them to report any instances of vehicle crime so we can further develop our patrol plan.
“If you see anyone acting suspiciously near a vehicle, call 999 straight away.
“Where possible we’d advise drivers to park in safe and well-lit areas, following the latest safe parking advice on our website.”