ACPO and the case of the stolen log books
The Association of Chief Police Officers has revealed that, as a result of an operation coordinated by its Vehicles Crime Intelligence Service, it has recovered over £1million worth of stolen vehicles which were sold using stolen V5 documents.
Last February, the DVLA announced that a large number of V5Cs had been stolen, and there are hundreds of these documents still in circulation.
However over 250 of these stolen log books have now been recovered, with 110 being used so far to sell vehicles.
When the new owner goes to register their new purchase using what they believe is a genuine V5, the vehicle will be flagged up as stolen and the police will seize it, leaving the unsuspecting buyer to foot the bill.
According to the ACPO, the most popular vehicles to be involved in the scam are Ford Transits, Nissan Navaras, BMWs, Mercedes and Audis; all often sold for cash at or just under bottom book prices to secure the sale.
The ACPO recommends that if you are looking at making a car purchase, that you check the V5 prefix doesn’t begin BG (or look as though it’s been altered to BC or BE).
The DVLA has a list of the stolen V5s which can be checked by calling their hotline on 0870 241 1878.
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