CAR crooks completely trashed a Norton resident's BMW in a bid to remove the steering wheel.

The owner of the BMW X3 discovered the damage on Thursday (January 16) but it is believed to have happened in the early hours of Wednesday January 15.

The luxury keyless car was locked and parked on a driveway in Windsor Road when it was broken into.

Another vehicle in nearby Osmaston Road is also believed to have been targeted on January 15, at around 1.35am.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said officers were investigating the Windsor Road steering wheel theft but they had no record of any other incidents.

People with high end keyless vehicles are urged to be on their guard against criminals who are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to break into cars.

An array of steering wheel thefts from expensive BMWs, Mercedes and Audis has been reported over the past 12 months, according to the national press, with many car owners taking to social media to share photos of the interior damage done to their vehicles to warn other owners to be vigilant.