Essex Police has warned motorists to avoid pulling over for anything other than a fully-marked police vehicle, following two robberies in the area. A second theft took place between junctions 27 and 28 on the M25 mid-afternoon on July 25th.æ A Ford Mondeo used a blue flashing light to get a grey Volkswagen Transporter van to pull over. Three men _ one holding handcuffs _ then asked the driver of the Volkswagen to get out of his vehicle.æ Two of the men then got into the van and drove off, with the Volkswagen driver unable to get the registration of the Ford. A similar incident occurred between junctions 7 and 8 on the M11, when a white Mercedes Sprinter van was stolen by four men in a silver Ford Mondeo, who stopped it under the guise of being police officers.æ One of the men had a firearm, though the two drivers of the van were left at the side of the road unharmed. DCI Stuart Smith from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate is leading both investigations, and said: "In a direct response to these incidents occurring a direction has been given to our officers that they should not, unless in emergency circumstances, be in an unmarked car and attempt to stop a driver. 'We have taken this decision to safeguard motorists in Essex while these offenders remain outstanding. 'Our victims have told us that the suspects are purporting to be police officers and are wearing body armour to further enhance this deception in order to steal these vans.î Anyone who is asked to pull over by an unmarked car appearing to be a police vehicle is requested to call 999 immediately to verify whether or not the vehicle is genuine. Anyone with information on either of the incidents above should contact Essex Police as soon as possible.
