Dunmow's community policing team is trying to track thieves who crashed a Peugeot 205 car after taking it from the drive of a house in Canfield Road, High Roding.

It is the second time that the 69-year-old owner, who has not been named, has been a victim. Another vehicle belonging to him was taken and burnt out on an earlier occasion.

The theft is believed to have taken place in the early hours of the morning. The damaged car was later recovered from a ditch near Gowers Farm in Ongar Road, High Roding.

Its ignition keys were still in the dashboard, but a collection of Snap On tools worth £500 are missing. A police spokesman said: ''The crops in the field were damaged by the car being driven over them.

"We are asking if anyone saw or heard anything between 10pm on May 25 and 3am on May 26. Voices were heard near the farm and we would like to know if anybody saw a person or persons walking along the Ongar Road.''

Published Thursday, June 5, 2003

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