A woman from Aylesbury whose car was stolen just before her daughter’s birthday said her family has been left ‘frustrated and helpless’ by a ‘mishandling’ of their case by police.

Rumsha Ansari, who lives on the Berryfields estate, reported the theft of her BMW to Thames Valley Police on April 15, after it “disappeared overnight” along with “several other vehicles from the area”.

Over the last month, Rumsha said she has become gradually more “disheartened” by a perceived lack of police investigation into what she thinks could be an epidemic of car thefts at Berryfields.

The mother-of-two, whose daughter’s birthday balloons were in the car when it was stolen, said she personally undertook a week-long investigation to find the family car and uncovered “vital information” about a possible suspect who apparently had not been identified by police.

She also said she received several accidental text messages from the officer assigned to her case that were intended for another victim – “further underscoring the troubling levels of incompetence within the department”.

Although a warrant for arrest has now been issued, Rumsha believes it is “far too late” to offer any real hope of recovering her car or lost belongings.

She said: “We, as innocent victims, are forced to bear the financial burden of higher insurance premiums due to the repeated thefts in our area. The lack of accountability for perpetrators only exacerbates the injustice we face.

“My daughter’s birthday celebrations were tarnished by the theft – a poignant reminder of the impact these crimes have on innocent lives.

“We deserve better protection and support from the authorities entrusted with our safety.”

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A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “We are investigating the theft of a motor vehicle in Aylesbury.

“A white BMW 640d was stolen from an address in Topaz Lane shortly after 2am on 15 April.

“Anyone with information should call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43240171419.

“Alternatively, provide information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.

“We do not comment about complaints, as it would be inappropriate to do so.

“We have a complaints procedure, which allows members of the public to make a complaint about the force or a member of our workforce. Details of our complaints procedure can be found via our website.”