Drivers are being warned of a recent scam spike that have seen multiple vehicles stolen.
People selling their Mercedes online are being targeted by thieves who end up nabbing the vehicles, Herts Police have warned.
Sergeant Andrew Blackwood, from the Abbots Langley safer neighbourhood team, said: “The offenders are turning up to view the Mercedes and then completing a key swap.
“The victims have been led to believe that they still retain the original or spare key and the offenders have arranged to make an offer the following day.
“However, the offenders then arrive back in the late evening or early hours of the morning and use the stolen key to access the vehicle, start it up and drive off.”
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The police said they are working to identify the criminals and asked residents to remain vigilant.
A woman who lives in the Holywell area of Watford recently revealed she suffered a similar theft earlier this month.
After people came to view her on-sale Mercedes, they returned in the early hours and stole the car from her driveway.
She believed the culprits cloned the car key when it was taken for a test drive.
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