A few weeks ago I turned on my car radio, to be greeted by a voice that dissolved into static. I tried a music station: it buzzed noisily. I thought I knew why. I pulled over and got out of the car. My aerial was gone.

Returning home, I noticed I was not the only victim. I walked up and down our road: nine cars had missing aerials. I strolled over to the next street: several of theirs had gone.