28/03/2005
NEWS STORY
Following the news that Bernie Ecclestone has virtually lost control of Formula One to the banks - at least for now - things have got even worse for the little big man as thieves have targeted his brand new Mercedes CLS55 AMG V8.
The £70,000 car, which he had only taken delivery of the previous day, was parked outside his home in Chelsea when the thieves struck, stealing the two roadside wheels, thought to be worth several thousand pounds each.
According to some reports Ecclestone has offered to buy back the wheels from the thieves but this would be illegal.
For Bernie, rumoured to be worth anywhere between £2.5bn - £4bn, this is not the first time he has been targeted by thieves. Two years ago his Mercedes S-class was left on bricks with all four wheels stolen. Prior to that Bernie and his wife Slavica were attacked by a gang which targeted celebrities. Although his wife's ring was stolen he gamely fought off the attackers.
The whole of this most recent incident was caught on CCTV - even the registration number of the thief's car. That, and the fact that there are only 50 of these cars in the UK, suggest that the police shouldn't have too much trouble getting them back.
No doubt Bernie has begun his own investigations.
Be sensible guys, give them back.