A private car seller was injured as car thieves sped off in the BMW they were test driving.

Yesterday afternoon in Rayne, a woman selling her daughter's convertible BMW car fell victim to the thieves who took the car keys and drove off, knocking her over with the open car door.

The woman was taken to hospital and received treatment for a minor head injury.

Police revealed the crime just a day after the Evening Gazette told how police were warning car sellers in mid Essex to be extra careful because thieves were posing as potential buyers and then driving off in the vehicles.

The team of thieves are targeting private sellers who advertise their cars for sale in local or trade press and so far, three BMW cars being sold privately have been stolen.

The thieves typically strike by phoning up the seller and arranging to come and see the car, while inspecting the vehicle, they distract the owner, take the keys and make off with the car.

Police again warned people to be extra vigilant when selling cars and not to leave them unattended with a prospective purchaser or hand over the keys.

The bulk of the thefts had so far been in the Chelmsford area, though a few months a go a Feering car seller was targeted.

Published Friday, May 2, 2003

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