NEWPORT bricklayer Richard Clifford was so sick of thieves and vandals targeting his car that he sold it.

Richard, 22, (pictured) said his Rover Metro was broken into three times in a year outside his Summerhill Avenue home.

And, he said, the mounting bill finally forced him to give up his wheels. Now he walks, takes the bus or borrows his father's car instead.

The Argus is fighting to cut vehicle crimes like this and to expose hot spots for thefts of and from cars across Gwent.

Richard said that after spending £600 on repairs he gave up on car ownership.

He said: "The first time was about a year and a half ago. "It was parked just over the road and I found it when I came home from work.

"The door was open a little bit and there was a little hole where the lock is. "Most of the stuff inside had gone, CDs and all the stuff out of the glove compartment.

"The second time was a year later, in January. I was in work and I was called to go home because my car had been vandalised. The passenger-side door was bent over, so I bent it back.

"But the third time was just a week later and they bent the door back again. It was demolished inside, the steering column was broken and everything because I had a steering lock on it. That time we caught the guy.

"The police told us what could happen to him, but we didn't hear anything afterwards.

"I didn't feel like driving it after all that, so I sold it. "I use my dad's car now, and I've got a van for work."

Mum Carol said: "I am glad the police are going to tackle the stolen car problem.

"It has cost my son £600 in repairs and I'd like to see the offender paying the repair bills. Why should my son keep paying out his hard-earned cash for the likes of scumbags who keep breaking into his car?"