CAR THIEVES SCAM ALERT
More News | Back to home page
STEPHEN BEVAN

12:00 - 02 October 2004
Thieves posing as DVLA officials stole a car after telling its owner it was illegally parked - on a driveway.

Driving a white and silver Mercedes low loader lorry, complete with a red and orange crane, the conmen have targeted several motorists in Mansfield.

On each occasion they either claimed to be from the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency or the town council.

Car owners were told they were illegally parked and their vehicles had to be removed.

Police are now warning motorists to be vigilant.

On Thursday, four people reported similar suspicious incidents in the Cumberlands, Grange Farm and Ladybrook estate areas of Mansfield.

At about 3.30pm, a man driving a lorry with same description approached a house on Beck Crescent, telling the householder he worked for the council.

He told the resident a car was illegally parked and had to be removed. However, he was challenged and left empty-handed.

Half-an-hour later, a red Ford Fiesta was stolen from another address in the same street.

Knocking on a resident's door, a man claiming to be from the DVLA told the householder a vehicle was parked illegally, despite it being on a driveway. The male resident, who has not been named, handed over vehicle documentation and the car was towed away.

At 4.11pm, police received a call from a resident of Armstrong Road, where a similar approach was made by a man in a low loader lorry.

This time, when the offender's identity was questioned he left without taking a vehicle.

A further report came in at 7.15pm from a home on Brick Kiln Lane.

Again the offenders were unsuccessful in their attempt to take a car. They left the scene when challenged by the householder.

Police believe at least two men are posing as officials.