'Did they pick on me because I'm an old man?' (From Warrington Guardian)

'Did they pick on me because I'm an old man?'

WHY did they pick on me? That is what a frail old man is left wondering after three men followed him and stole his car.

Frank Smith, who says he has not slept since it happened on Monday, August 22, said: "I have always been a nervous person but this has made it worse.

"If I could talk to them I would ask why did they do it? Did they pick on me because I am an old man with a walking stick?"

Police say Mr Smith, aged 61, from Poplar Avenue, was followed by three men in a blue BMW as he left a craft centre near Nantwich, at around 1.30pm. They flashed him to stop while he was on the A500 and pointed at the car as if something was wrong.

When Mr Smith stopped one man got out, threatened him and told him to get out of the Black Mini hire car he was driving.

"It was shocking, I was hoping nothing was going to happen to me," said Mr Smith, a retired landscaper gardener. "I sat on the grass verge. My head was just numb."

Mr Smith was picked up by a woman in a silver car who dropped him off at a service station at near junction 16 of the M6. Police are hoping to trace her.

The man driving the saloon is described as 5ft 5ins tall, aged 42 to 47, tanned, and wearing a blue top and trousers.

The man who got out of the car is said to be around 6ft tall, aged 20 to 28, of thin build and was wearing a baseball cap, white top and blue denims.

The third was about 6ft, had blonde hair and wore a blue top, jeans and trainers.

Anyone with information should call Det Sgt Chris Myers on 01244 613331, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.