Hunt for car-jacker posing as police who pulls victims over with blue flashing lights

A car-jacker has been posing as a plain-clothes police officer to steal cars, police say
Shutterstock / ArtOlympic
Bonnie Christian23 January 2019

Police are investigating a series of carjackings in Greenwich in which a man posing as a plain clothes police officer pulled drivers over with blue flashing lights before making off with their car.

Scotland Yard said that within the space of a week, three people were approached by a man as they were driving in south east London.

On two occasions, the man drove up behind the drivers with flashing blue lights and then introduced himself as a police officer before stealing their car.

Officers said the first theft happened just before 7am on January 17 in Middle Park Avenue, Eltham when a 33-year-old woman thought she was being pulled over by police.

The woman was driving a white BMW 520d sport when she saw a car behind her flashing a blue light in the windscreen.

When she pulled over, a man approached and told her he was a police officer, showing her a lanyard with a leather cover but without a crest or badge.

Police said the man asked her to leave the car, and when she did, he got in the driver’s seat and drove away.

The suspect's car followed behind, driven by another man.

A few days later on January 21 just before midday, a woman pulled over on Glenesk Road, Eltham, to make a phone call.

A man approached her and told her she had an oil leak, police said.

She left the keys in the ignition as she stepped out to take a look before the man got in the car and drove away.

Police said a second man then ran up the road before following the suspect in another car.

The third incident happened the following day around 3pm when a man who was driving along Academy Road, Woolwich, notice a dark people carrier behind him flashing a blue light.

Officers said he pulled over, thinking it was the police, and was asked by one of the men to step out of the car so he could have a look inside.

The suspect then drove the car away while being followed by the other man in the people carrier.

Police have not located any of the vehicles.

Detective Sergeant Dominic Bolas said: "These thefts have happened in a short space of time and appear to be specific to this local area.

"We would urge the public to be vigilant and anyone approached by a plain clothed police officer should feel comfortable speaking to them and can always ask to check their ID which should be on them at all times.

“Local officers have been made aware of these incidents and will be instructed to be mindful if making stops while not in uniform and to make their identity clear."

Anyone with more information about these incidents should contact the South East Command Unit CID based at Lewisham police station on 07393 006959.