The UK's top-cop alliance, ACPO*, is warning that buyers of secondhand vehicles are being duped using genuine V5C ownership logbooks stolen from the government motor licencing authority.

"It is believed that there are hundreds of stolen V5Cs currently in circulation," says a statement issued today by the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), noting that a "large number" were stolen from the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) in February. The DVLA itself has already issued two warnings this year.

It seems that the dodgy ownership documents have serial numbers between BG 9167501 and BG 9214000, though unscrupulous sellers frequently try to alter the numbers. Buyers in any doubt should check the number with the DVLA by phone on 0870 241 1878, as a database check will swiftly reveal a stolen vehicle.

http://www.acpo.police.uk/pressrelea...1486A352E9E%7D