A GANG of thieves raided a Wychbold car garage and stripped the forecourt of eight motors.

The £40,000 theft left employees at Quality Cars, off the Worcester Road, gobsmacked when they arrived at work to discover a half-empty pitch.

Raiders had broken into the firm's office and nicked keys for vehicles.

Stolen models include a green Ford Escort (R956 LFX), a black Mercedes C180 (M868 FUG), a purple Rover 214 (P73 TWS), a white Rover 216 Coupe (L199 BVP), a grey Land Rover Discovery (393 TAG) and a blue Vauxhall Vectra (P386 CUY).

A black Chrysler Neon and a gold Lexus were also taken but later recovered just a mile from Quality Cars.

Manager Derek Cartlidge said: "I felt sick when I arrived and we are now busy improving security and buying more cars to re-stock the forecourt.

"There must have been at least ten people involved to pull this off and I think it had been planned for some time. It appears they hand picked the cars they wanted."

Derek, who lives in Catshill, Bromsgrove, said a window was removed to access the office and security wires were slashed.

A door leading to the key room kicked in and a metal bar across the forecourt was attacked with a bolt cropper.

The garage does have surveillance cameras but Derek is now forking out to enhance security and is installing four colour CCTV cameras to protect the site.

"We are insured but this has been very stressful and I wouldn't want to got through it again," he told the Advertiser.

The incident happened overnight on Monday, April 28.

Police are currently investigating the raid and appealed for anyone with information to come forward. Please contact PC Julie Merry on 08457 444 888, quoting reference number 82S/290403, with information.