Woman hurt during car theft

3 August 2010, 09:00

Heart's been given this image of a man police are looking for after the incident in Hook, North Hampshire.

On Sunday July 25th, a 45-year-old woman had listed her black Range Rover Sport on Auto Trader to sell. She received a phone call from a man interested in buying the car and arranged a time to meet him.
 
At around 2.45pm on Sunday the man came to see the car with another man who claimed to be a vehicle mechanic. They were driving a grey or silver five series BMW.

The man then asked if he could take it for a test drive and she agreed and went with them as a passenger. After a short time the man driving the car parked outside Greenfields Junior School in Green Lane and asked if she wanted to drive as he wanted to go faster but was nervous as it was not his car.
 
As she got out of the vehicle the man started to drive away. She managed to grab hold of the door handle and was dragged along the road. The second man then slammed the door on her arm and she let go and the car drove off.
 
The woman suffered swelling and bruising to her left wrist and pain in her shoulder following the incident. She was taken to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital for treatment.
 
Officers believe the vehicle may be in Reading, Surrey or Kent.
 
The first man is described as aged between 28 and 30 years old, around 5ft 9ins tall, medium build with short dark hair. The second man is described as similar to the first but slimmer.
 
Detective Constable Penelope Murray, of the Aldershot Priority Crime Team, said:

“These kinds of incidents are rare in Hook and we are appealing for information to trace the men responsible.
 
“We want to hear from anyone who recognises the descriptions or anyone with information about the incident.
 
“We have also released an e-fit image of the man who was driving the car. If you recognise him, contact us immediately.
 
“Our advice to people selling cars is to never leave your car and keys in the hands of a potential buyer and where possible get someone else to come with you if you are meeting someone interested in buying your car.”
 
Following this incident, Hampshire Police has given Heart this advice:

  • Always check that the person has a valid driving license and insurance to drive your vehicle.
  • Never let the buyer go on a test drive alone. They may not come back. 
  • Don’t leave the buyer alone with your keys, and never get out of the vehicle to allow a test drive leaving the keys in the ignition.
  • Thieves have been known to steal car keys by swapping them with similar keys.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Detective Constable Murray at Aldershot police station on 101 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.