£25,000 for stolen car

Motorists are now being warned to be on their guard when replying to adverts in specialist car magazines that lead to deals in public places like pub car parks.

Police believe the cars are stolen outside the area and the scam only comes to light when the buyer contacts the DVLA and asks to register or tax their 'new' car - which is already registered to someone else.

PC Kev Harper, of the Road Crime Unit, said: "Over the last 12 months I've dealt with around two dozen enquiries involving members of the public who have innocently bought stolen vehicles through adverts in magazines.

"Typically I'm notified by the DVLA about someone using a counterfeit or stolen V5 registration document or registering a vehicle which is already registered under someone else's name.

"Once I contact the person with the vehicle it nearly always turns out that they have bought the stolen car in good faith in a public place such as a car park."

The vehicles, varying in value from 6,000 to 25,000, are supplied with a fake registration document which is handed to the innocent purchaser. PC Harper said: "The sellers of these vehicles have gone to great lengths to try and instil confidence into the potential buyers. Sometimes this involves carrying false ID.

"Recent purchasers have come from varied backgrounds but all have one thing in common - they have all had vast amounts of money taken from them, with little or no chance of tracing the offender.

"We need to warn potential buyers to be more cautious before handing over large amounts of money for what seems to be a bargain motor."

For more information contact the Road Crime Unit on 0114 220 2956.