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Prized possessions lost as car stolen

From the archive, first published Monday 4th Aug 2003.

A widow lost a number of her most prized possessions after her car was stolen while she attended a wedding in Oxford.

Anne McLeod had brought the items with her from Aberdeen because builders were working on her home.

Ms McLeod has now criticised Thames Valley Police's new call handling centres for the way she says they investigated the crime.

She had driven from Aberdeen to go to attend friend's wedding at St Mary's Church, Iffley, when her Land Rover Freelander, containing items including a guitar, photographs of her late husband, and a ring belonging to her great-great-grandmother, was taken.

Her grandmother's gold wedding ring was also taken in the theft on Saturday, July 19. She had planned a two-week camping holiday, and pitched her tent in Henley.

"I ended up stranded in Oxford with just my wedding finery," said Ms McLeod, 48.

"I had the builders in at home and figured it was safer to bring my favourite possessions with me.

"Some of the items were later found in Radley, thankfully including photograph albums with pictures of my husband, who died last year. I'd brought them with me to show his university friends."

Ms McLeod's late husband, David Carnegie, studied at Oxford Brookes University in 1981.

She criticised Thames Valley Police for the "routine" way they dealt with the theft.

She said: "I felt absolutely nothing was done."

The centralised police call centres were introduced last month. Thames Valley Police spokesman Annie Tysom said: "We are investigating the incident. Our call centres collect enough information to enable our officers to conduct a thorough investigation."

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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