Joyriders who'll just borrow your car

Published on Tuesday 5 February 2008 21:10

DETECTIVES are puzzled by a bizarre series of car thefts by "joyriders with a conscience" – who later return the vehicles.

At least eight cars were taken and returned without the owners initially noticing they had been stolen.

The offences only came to light because keys were put back in the wrong place, the cars were in different positions or the mileage had changed.

The vehicles were driven long distances before being returned to properties in Jedburgh, Roxburghshire.

But on one occasion in September, a car stolen from the town crashed almost 30 miles away in Innerleithen. Three people were seen running from the car.

All the other thefts, since Boxing Day, resulted in the cars being returned.

The thieves entered often insecure homes, removed the car keys and went for a drive before returning the keys and vehicles.

Police said there was no pattern to the days of the week on which vehicles were taken. The cars targeted included Vauxhalls, a Mini Cooper, a Nissan, a Citron and Ford Fiestas.