A WOMAN who had her wing mirror stolen from her car wants to warn people to beware of the seemingly apologetic thieves that are prowling a local retail park.

Jacqui Brereton of The Meadows, Bromborough, went to the gym at JJB Sports Centre on Bromborough retail park and parked her 4x4 in the car park for about an hour on the afternoon of February 3.

When she came out she found the glass of her wing mirror had been taken and what appeared to be a friendly note attached to her windscreen saying “sorry, but my car hit your mirror off, I have put it in Halfords, ps.sorry.”

“I thought it was a bit odd,” said Jacqui. “As I had folded in the mirrors of my car to prevent such damage.

“I went into Halfords to query the staff and they said it was a scam and they’d had a couple of people in over the last few weeks asking the same thing.

“The reason the theives do this, “ said Jacqui. “Is in hope that the car owner will leave their vehicle un-locked when they go into Halfords.

“This will give the thieves who have been watching the car an opportunity to take any valuables they can get their hands on before the owner returns.

“Luckily, I locked my car before going so they were unable to steal anything from it.

“But it did cost me £70 to have my wing mirror replaced which has really angered me.”

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: “We are reminding motorists to always keep their vehicles locked while they are unattended following several incidents of theft from cars parked at The Croft retail park on Welton Road, Bromborough.

“Officers are investigating a number of thefts which have occured after the car owner has been distracted by a note left on the windscreen, or while they have been returning a trolley to a store.

“High-visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area and members of the public are urged to report anything suspicious to Bromborough police station on 0151 777 2552 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”