A USED car dealership has been hit by thieves who raided the garage and stole a car.

Burglars broke into Mick Partlett Car Sales in Witney in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Business owner Mr Partlett has hit out at the thieves who forced their way in through the back door and took a £6,500 Renault Clio GT.

He said: “I came to work and the place had been absolutely ransacked.”

The car dealer said the office had been searched and the CCTV system had been ripped apart.

He said the burglars had cut the padlock to the shutters and driven the car away.

Police, who were inside the dealership investigating the burglary until 3pm on Wednesday, say the crime happened between 12.30am and 8.45am.

Mr Partlett said the raid could have cost the firm more than £9,000 in all, but he feared the insurance would not cover the loss because the keys had been left in the car.

He said: “They could have broken into this place 100 times and got away with nothing.

“It is unbelievable how this has happened as normally we wouldn’t have left the keys in the car.”

Charity collections boxes, number plates, and even invoice pads were also taken in the raid.

Mr Partlett said: “It is just annoying more than anything else.”

But he added: “It is as if someone was trying to stop my business.”

The blue Clio had been sold to a buyer in Swindon who was due to pick up the car on Saturday. Police spokesman James Williams said: “Offenders forced entry to the building via a rear door. “An untidy search has been carried out, after which a blue Renault Clio vehicle was stolen, along with petrol and a set of registration plates.”

He urged witnesses or anyone with information to call the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org