POLICE have release clear CCTV images of two Coventry men who conned a Derbyshire couple out of more than £13,000 by selling them a stolen car.
The fraudulent activities of the pair were only discovered when the unsuspecting couple sent off the documents they believed were genuine to the DVLA, only to be told that the papers were fake and their car was actually a stolen vehicle.
The crime began on February 4, when the white Kia Sportage was stolen from outside a house in the Wyken area of the city.
A few days later, the couple from Derbyshire spotted the for sale on the website Auto Trader.
On February 11, the pair travelled down to see the car, which was in a car park attached to a block of flats on Gressingham Grove in Foleshill.
The sale was agreed and the couple willingly went to the city centre branch of Halifax, with the two lads who were selling the car, to draw out the cash.
Investigating officer, PC Rob Morris, from Coventry’s vehicle crime team, said the couple had checked all the relevant paperwork and unwittingly believed everything to be in order.
He added: “They had the relevant V5 document, which they sent off as required and there appeared to be nothing wrong with the car, so they were devastated to find out a month later that their new car actually belonged to someone else.
“It turns out the Kia was on false plates and replica VIN plate stickers had been fitted to make the car appear genuine to the unsuspecting buyers.
“It was only when the DVLA received the paperwork that the con was revealed as they confirmed the documents were in fact fake.”
Both of the offenders are white men who are believed to be from the Coventry area – with local accents and an apparent knowledge of the local area.
One is described as 5ft 7in tall, in his mid to late 20s, with short messy brown hair and of stocky or muscular build.
The second man is around 5ft 8in tall, of large build, with short cropped dark hair.
Anyone who can identify the men is urged to call Coventry Police vehicle crime team by dialling 101 ext 7934 6271 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
