A gang being dubbed the 'Corsa Cartel' are targeting Vauxhall motors across Scotland, with thieves ripping the bonnets off cars. Police are probing a number of incidents after vehicles were torn apart in Fife and West Lothian over the last few days.
It's understood that Corsas are being specifically targeted for parts during the spate of robberies. Jody and Greig Allan, from Cowdenbeath in Fife, were the latest to fall victim to the callous crime after they woke up to find their car in pieces outside their home on Wednesday morning.
Two Corsas were also ripped apart in the nearby village Crossgates overnight - and that followed news that two of the same style vehicles had also been damaged at Livingston South train station over the weekend.
Greig, 34, is a glazier and relies on having his car available for his work. His wife Jody told the Record: "We just want people to know this is happening in the neighbourhood. At the moment we’re in touch with our insurance company to get them to pick it up and to get a courtesy car as soon as possible as my partner needs his car for his work. The police took all our information but they believe they were after parts."
Support worker Jody, who works with children with disabilities, says the car was parked in between two other cars and the window was smashed to let an arm in to unlock the bonnet clip. The 33-year-old says the pair were left devastated to find the vehicle torn apart and she's slammed those responsible.
Jody added: "We are waiting to see if any neighbours heard anything and to see if anyone has camera footage. I think in general we were just in shock. It's really inconvenienced us as we need our cars for getting to and from work and we have two toddlers that rely on the car. Going forward we're going to purchases cameras for the side of our house.
"It’s just a shame that the world we live in our property isn’t safe when you go to bed. It’s seems it wasn’t an isolated incident as after having it up on Facebook we’ve now learned other Corsas have been targeted the same way in Crossgates the same evening."
On Sunday we told how Victoria Greenwood, from Edinburgh, left her car at Livingston South train station in West Lothian on September 24 as she headed to Glasgow for an overnight stay. However, when she returned the following day she found the family car had been completely destroyed by thugs. There are also confirmed reports of similar incidents in both Broxburn and Edinburgh.
There has been some speculation the cars are being targeted for parts after manufacturing delays caused by covid.
One worried mum said: "This is happening everywhere just now. There has been a few in Livingston and a few in Broxburn over the past few weeks"
Another said: "The infamous Corsa Cartel strike again... what is going on?! This is happening loads around the Livingston area too."
Meanwhile another person warned: "Corsa D is very common for front end theft as they don't come with an alarm as standard unless a VXR model. It sounds like someone is getting written off Corsas and stealing parts to repair the front ends."
Police Scotland confirmed they have launched investigations into several of the incidents - but they said that, since enquiries are still at an early stage, they aren’t treating them as linked at this time.
On the incidents in Cowdenbeath and Crossgates, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On the morning of Wednesday, September 28, police received reports of a car being damaged on Perth Road, Cowdenbeath, and a following two cars being damaged on the Main Street of Crossgates. Enquiries into these reports at an early stage.”
Regarding the incidents in Livingston, the spokesperson added: "Around 9.55am on Sunday, September 25, police were called to a report of two cars damaged on Murieston West Road, Livingston. Enquiries are ongoing into this incident."
And of the incidents in Edinburgh, another police spokesperson said: "Around 7.20am on Sunday, September 25, police were called to a report of a car damaged in Stenhouse Street, East. Enquiries are ongoing into this incident."
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