Owners of Mercedes cars are being urged to keep them in a garage after thieves stole thousands of pounds worth of wing mirrors.

In the past four weeks, ten car owners from Oxford and west of the city have returned to their cars to find the wing mirrors missing.

In each instance, both electric mirrors were taken on Mercedes E class and C class cars.

Police said they were linking the thefts and said it could cost up to £900 to replace each mirror.

They urged owners to keep their cars off the road where possible, preferably in a locked garage.

Victim Billy Ashley, of Staunton Road, Headington, had both wing mirrors stolen from his Mercedes E class when it was parked outside his house last Sunday.

The father-of-three said: “I got up in the morning and got halfway down the road and went to look in the wing mirror and it wasn’t there. I looked for the other one and it wasn’t there either.

“My first thought was that they had stolen them to order. I phoned the Mercedes dealership to find out the cost of a replacement and it made me realise that they are worth a bit of money.”

The 39-year-old was told it would cost about £1,300 to replace the pair.

He added: “I’m very disappointed. It’s a selfish act carried out by someone for profit and I have no sympathy. It’s in the workshop now and I’m still without a car.”

PC Charlie Ellis, from the autocrime department at St Aldate’s police station, said: “They must have an element of mechanical knowledge as they are unscrewing them and removing the electric cables.

“I would imagine they are stealing them because of their value. They are probably selling them privately or possibly even selling them on to garages or they could be working on behalf of garages.

“We don’t know where they are going but they are certainly being sold for profit.”

PC Ellis added: “Trying to prevent this is quite difficult.

“All we can suggest is maybe speak to the Mercedes garages and see if they can give some advice, or if you can, park it on the driveway or in the garage, but that’s not necessarily an option for some people.

“I would imagine it’s the same people. I can’t imagine it’s a coincidence.

“Trying to catch them is quite difficult. We will continue to go through the usual enquiries, and examine any possible CCTV, forensics and appeal to any witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously around vehicles.

“We will also be highlighting it to local garages in case they are approached by anyone trying to sell them.”

Anyone with information about the thefts should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.