Ref:119 November 5, 2007
AVCIS WARN VEHICLE OWNERS TO BE AWARE OF STOLEN LOG BOOKS SCAM

Over £1 million pounds worth of stolen vehicles have been recovered this year, as a result of an operation being co-ordinated by the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS). All of the vehicles were stolen and then sold in various parts of the UK using a stolen V5 as alleged proof of ownership.

In February 2007 the DVLA announced that a large number of V5 documents had been stolen. It is believed that there are hundreds of stolen V5c’s currently in circulation. To date AVCIS are aware of over 250 of these stolen log books having been checked or recovered.

Superintendent John Wake of AVCIS said:

“We are seeing too much of this type of crime. Each crime tends to have more than one victim. Don’t get caught out, make as many checks as you can before you commit to purchasing a vehicle. Never buy if you have any doubts. There are always more vehicles for sale than there are buyers.”

So far 110 of the stolen V5’s have been used to sell vehicles, which has led to the purchaser trying to register the vehicle only to find that it is a stolen vehicle and subsequently have the vehicle seized by the Police. There is often no way of tracing the seller who has used either a false name and address or has met the victim at a pre arranged location such as a motorway service area. In these cases the purchaser will not only lose the money they have paid for the vehicle but they will lose the vehicle as well.

The most popular vehicles are Ford Transits, Nissan Navaras, BMWs, Mercedes and Audis. It is believed that the Transits and Navara’s are favoured as builders type vehicles whereas the BMW, Audi and Mercedes are favoured as prestige vehicles. Often they are sold at or just under bottom book price and are sold for cash which sometimes acts as a sweetener to secure the sale.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

• There are a number of checks that AVCIS recommend before a purchase of a vehicle is carried out to prevent a purchaser becoming a victim:

1. The serial number of the V5 will start with the prefix BG, checks can be carried out through the DVLA or HPI to see if the V5 is on the stolen list. DVLA hot line 0870 241 1878 . The letters BG are sometimes altered to look like BC or BE and on some occasions have been rubbed out altogether. If in doubt do not buy the vehicle and notify the police.
2. If it is on the list do not buy the vehicle but contact the Police.
3. Check the Road Fund Licence (Tax Disc), is it the same registration number. A number have been altered or defaced or have not been entered correctly.
4. Are you happy with the vendor as why is he/she is selling the vehicle?
5. Does the seller have a good clear knowledge of the vehicle, where the switches are, how the stereo works etc?

6. Is the address on the V5 the sellers address? Always insist on going to the address of the vendor and if possible go into their house to ascertain that they do in fact live there. Ask for other identity such as a utility bill.
7. Do not attend car parks i.e. retail out lets, pub car parks to purchase the vehicle.
8. Is the vehicle priced correctly? Is it really a bargain?
9. If it looks to good to be true then it probably is, walk away if you are not happy and if you are suspicious bring it to the attention of your local police.

The serial numbers of the stolen V5’s range from BG 9167501 to BG 9214000.

• The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

• The ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) was launched in December 2006 by the under secretary for Police and Security Mr Vernon Coaker and the ACPO President Mr Ken Jones QPM. The unit intends to remove the use of a vehicle as a crime enabler by working with partner agencies to tackle vehicle enabled crime using multi agency intelligence.

• The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.

• ACPO’s 341 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.