RECENTLY, sneak thieves entered our dealership in McMullen Road, Darlington, and drove off in an unattended Mitsubishi Shogun.

PC Katie Lawrence and her colleague visited us and were very supportive despite our contributory negligence. They and their inspector assured us that every effort would be made to recover the vehicle.

Nevertheless, we assumed it would never be found and because we had allowed the keys to be stolen, too, it would be unlikely to be covered by insurance. Just what we need in a struggling industry in a credit crunch.

A few days later, PC Stephen Moralee noticed a Shogun parked in Ferryhill. For some reason he felt it was worth closer inspection. He was off-duty, but he took it upon himself to make an inquiry to the control room. It transpired that it was our car. It was immediately recovered – undamaged.

So, through PC Moralee’s fastidiousness, we went from perhaps an uninsured total loss to repatriation with an undamaged vehicle. I should like to congratulate Durham Constabulary on the quality of policing, to thank Inspector Mo Perwaze, PC Lawrence and colleague for their support, and – in particular – PC Moralee for his crime-busting action even while off-duty.

Oh, PS to the thieves: “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera!”

Bill Robson, Tees Valley Mitsubishi, Darlington.