A young couple from Swinton were in for an unpleasant shock on Saturday 30 July when they paid £50 at a car wash for a full valet but returned to find their vehicle had been stolen.
The metallic grey VW Amarok 4×4 pickup truck has the registration plate S7 VWA.
It’s now listed as stolen.
It had a fitted plastic and metal canopy cage which may now have been removed.
CCTV footage from outside the Swinton Hand Car Wash on the A580 East Lancs apparently shows the vehicle left with the engine on and the keys inside, before a young man runs across the road, jumps in the car and speeds away.
The victims, who wish to remain anonymous, told SalfordOnline.com: “We along with friends have both used this car wash before and we’ve never had a problem before.
Swinton Hand Car Wash. A580 © Google
“We drove the car to the car wash at 1pm for the valeting and left the keys with the owner who told us to return at 6pm to pick it up.
“When we got back there we were amazed to be told that it had been stolen and the theft was on CCTV and that the police had been informed.
“The owner told us that the car had to be left with the engine running after the valeting to help dry the vehicle and get rid of the chemical smells.
“We are both amazed that the car could be left unattended for such a length of time with the engine running, which would make it an obvious target for any thief passing by.”
Police have the CCTV and are now investigating.
The owner of Swinton Hand Car Wash was not available when SalfordOnline.com contacted the business for comment.
However, the assistant manager on duty said: “We are very upset at the theft of the vehicle.
“We have been operating here for the past five years and we have never had any problems in all that time.
“We have given the CCTV of the theft to the police, which shows a lone male approaching the car and driving off in it.
“It’s standard procedure to leave the engine running in the car to help it dry out after valeting, and I really feel upset for this couple.”
Greater Manchester Police advise that if you see the vehicle around Swinton or Salford to report it immediately on 101.
