IT IS nothing short of outrageous that a man of 72 was shot and injured, by a masked gang of car-jackers, as he returned to his Jaguar in the car park of a Bradford pub where he had been enjoying a night out.

This horrifying incident, reportedly involving a retired doctor, is the latest in a wave of similar crimes which, by yesterday, had totalled 26 across the district since the start of October. At least one other driver has also been injured.

West Yorkshire Police, who admit to being ‘greatly concerned’ by the situation have now set up a specialist team of detectives to hunt down the gangs behind this crimewave.

That very welcome decision to take action has come not a moment too soon.

It remains unclear, however, what reason or reasons lie behind the surge in these crimes.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Bryar, who is leading the investigation team, believes the vehicles could be shipped abroad, broken up for spare parts or even used for joyriding.

But no-one paying out what can often amount to significant sums to drive the vehicle of their choice should ever feel fear that it could be forcibly taken from them.

Advances in vehicle security have, ironically, left drivers at more risk in these situations as thieves now need the keys and, as we have witnessed in the past few weeks, some of these criminals are prepared to attack and injure to gain possession of them.

The public fully deserves reassurances by police that the perpetrators of these dreadful crimes will be caught.

And then they must be punished by the courts using the full force of the law.