Bolton: Car stolen by gang from councillor's driveway

Cllr Andy Morgan, who represents Heaton and Lostock, says that his Land Rover Discovery was taken from his home at around 3.30am on Monday morning by an as yet unidentified group of thieves.

CCTV footage shows a group of four young men pulling up to Cllr Morgan’s drive in a dark blue VW Passat Estate car.

Cllr Morgan said: “Since then I’ve had two messages saying it was seen on Chorley New Road last night and then another one at about 1pm on Monday saying someone had seen it doing a circuit of Chequerbent.”

“I’m just really grateful that people have shared the appeal on Facebook and people have come forward with sightings.”

The car is a grey Land Rover Discovery registration Y66 APM and had a tracker on showing that it was taken to Leigh, opposite Asda on Atherleigh Way, to some scrap land just off Windermere Grove.

Cllr Andy Morgan's Land Rover Discovery 

After waking to find his car had been taken, Cllr Morgan, who currently serves as cabinet member for adult services and is also well known in the area as owner of a well-respected care home, immediately issued an appeal on social media.

Despite being shocked by the theft, he says he has been heartened by the support he has received from people all across the borough and by the many people who have come forward with information.

Cllr Andy Morgan, who represents Heaton and Lostock

But as of Wednesday morning, the Land Rover still has not been recovered.

This comes after several other recent cases of thefts of cars, particularly of Land Rovers were reported in Bolton, Bury and the surrounding area earlier this year.

In March it was reported a car had been taken from a driveway on Watling Street in Affetside as well as others in Egerton, Greenmount, Fairfield, Ainsworth and further afield in Norden, near Rochdale.

Anyone with any information can contact Greater Manchester Police on 101 or message Cllr Andy Morgan through his Facebook page.