A MOTORIST who had his £15,000 car stolen from under his nose by thieves posing as buyers is warning others to beware. The 32-year-old car owner from St Albans was showing a man and a woman his Volkswagen Golf on Sunday when they jumped in the car and sp

A MOTORIST who had his £15,000 car stolen from under his nose by thieves posing as buyers is warning others to beware.

The 32-year-old car owner from St Albans was showing a man and a woman his Volkswagen Golf on Sunday when they jumped in the car and sped off along Hatfield Road towards Hatfield.

He was told by the police the incident was part of a spate of thefts that they believe were carried out by one gang who were targeting specific cars.

The victim, who works as a sound engineer, said he had been careful to stay in between the car and the viewers. But when they were about to go for a test drive, the woman caught him by surprise by jumping in and locking the doors, and the man who was still sitting in the drivers seat, drove off before he could get in.

He said: "I was shocked. I have been left without transport and it will be a pain to have to sort out getting payment from the insurance company. The police told me I should have asked for some identification before the test drive and I would advise everyone else to do the same."

Police describe the man as being stocky, with short hair, wearing jeans, a leather jacket and a flat cap. And the woman was described as having blond hair with black roots, in her twenties, and having blue jeans.

If you have any information about the theft, call DC Georgina Fenge on 01727 796352 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.