Car theft spree prompts emotional appeal

Amid their haul was a rucksack belonging to a local piano teacher which contained sheet music handed down to him by his late father.
Laurence McNaughton, aged 31, of Jubilee Road, has made an emotional appeal to the thieves for its return.
Also targeted in the crime spree was a silver VW Tiguan parked in Gloucester Road, which had its window smashed.
In Almond Avenue, two offenders were seen crouching over a black Vauxhall Astra. On investigation the interior light of the car was found to have been switched on but nothing had been stolen.
In Oakley Road a pushchair was stolen from the boot of a black Vauxhall Corsa, while in Tudor Road offenders smashed the window of a black Audi A3 in order to attempt to gain entry
In Mayfair Drive the window of a blue Alfa Romeo was smashed and an IPod was stolen; in Sharwood Place a satellite navigation system was stolen from a blue Vauxhall Meriva and in Bartlemy Close, football boots and a bag were stolen from a silver Ford Focus.
Mr McNaughton, meanwhile, has pleaded with the thieves for the return of the sheet music which, he said, had great sentimental value but little or no cash worth.
The thieves smashed the window of his red VW Golf to gain access to the rucksack in the boot between 10.30pm on Friday, October 10 and 7pm on Saturday, October 11.
It also contained rare scores from well-known composers such as Frederic Chopin, Nikolai Kapustin and J.S Bach
Mr McNaughton, who teaches piano throughout West Berkshire, said: “What is in there is just sheets of paper that are worthless to most people and something they wouldn’t really be able to sell on, but they have incredible sentimental value to me.
“My father died when I was very young and some of the things stolen had pencil markings from him and other sheets of printed music, which I have had for more than 20 years, were also taken.”
He added: “I’m gutted. I’ve accepted I’m probably not going to get it back. I know no one got hurt but it’s a horrible feeling. They probably saw the rucksack in the car and thought there was something valuable inside like a laptop.
“I know times are hard and I do not want to hold a grudge against the person that did it - I just want it back. I would just ask whoever did it to dump the bag outside the police station or my front door or wherever.”
Anyone with information on any of the above incidents should contact police on 101.
Alternatively the independent Crimestoppers charity can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.