Recognise him? Motorist's photo holds clues to bogus car buyer
A quick-thinking motorist took this photo of a suspected car thief after he tried to make off in a BMW on a test drive in Cradley Heath.
A police spokesman said: "Following an advert in a car buying magazine, a man, pretending to be an interested buyer - arranged to meet the seller in Cradley Heath to test drive a BMW.
"But on the test drive he threatened the owner and stole the car. In his rush to drive away he collided with another car on Overend and a quick thinking passerby managed to take a photo of the man as he ran away."
Police believe the same man struck again a few weeks later police when he answered another sales advert for a car in Wood Green Road, Wednesbury.
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This time the man, described as Asian, of a stocky build and with a small amount of stubble, escaped with an Audi A7 after assaulting the seller on a test drive.
He was well dressed, wearing a black Lacoste flat cap and a pair of black Prada trousers.
The incidents happened on June 16 and July 5 respectively.
DC Matthew Brotherton, from Sandwell's Investigation Team, said: "We are appealing for anyone that may have witnessed these incidents or anyone who has been contacted by any of these numbers in similar circumstances or had any near misses that they didn't initially report.
"We also want to make people aware who are selling their cars, should a man matching this description come to see them, then to contact us immediately."
Anyone can put a name to the man can call the police on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
