A DRIVING instructor says he is baffled by the theft of the magnetic sign from the top of his car.

James Gibbs, 76, of Wellington Hill, High Beech, near Waltham Abbey, had the sign with the name of his business, the Start-Rite School of Motoring, snatched from the roof of his Renault Clio overnight on Saturday, April 16.

“Who would have taken a board off the top of the car?” he said. “I can’t think of any members of the public who would take it. I can’t think of anyone I’ve offended.

“I think it’s just some stupid boy who has taken it off and thrown it in a hedge, but I’ve looked and I can’t see it.”

He said the only person who would have any use for the board would be another driving instructor, but the details for his business were printed onto his sign.

“I’ve got another sign being made, for another £100,” he said. “It’s annoying. You do pick up business with that board.

“I’ve got a couple of L-plates on, but it looks like your dad’s teaching you to drive.”

He had put his BMW in the garage on the night of April 16 rather than the Renault he uses for teaching because he had heard the make was being targeted by thieves, but when he left the house the next morning, he noticed it was the sign on the Renault that had been taken.

“I’ve lived here for about 25 years, but I’ve never had any problems before,” he added. “I’ve been a driving instructor since about 1991, but I’ve never known anything like this to happen.”

The sign was stolen between 10.30pm on April 16 and 7.30am the next day.

Anyone with information on the theft should call Pc Jamie Haskoylu at Loughton police station on 0300 3334444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.