Hunt for London carjackers posing as police with blue flashing lights to pull victims over

Three lone drivers targeted by two men driving car with blue flashing light in southeast London

A pair of carjackers who are posing as police to pull over motorists before making off in their cars, are being hunted by Scotland Yard detectives.

Using a flashing blue light the men ushered the drivers to the side of the road. They are believed to have been involved in three separate car thefts over the past week – two in Eltham and one in Woolwich in southeast London.

Police urged the public to ask for the officer's identification and warned them to be vigilant.

The first incident involved a 33-year-old woman, who was was driving a white BMW 520d sport when she noticed a car behind her with a flashing blue light in the windscreen on 17 January.

She pulled over and a man approached her and said he was a police officer. He showed her a lanyard with a leather cover but she did not see a crest or badge.

The man asked her to get out of the car, but when she did he climbed into the driver’s seat and drove off.

The car he had been in followed behind, driven by another man and neither vehicle has been found.

Four days later a second woman pulled over to make a phone call at about 12pm when a man stopped to tell her she had an oil leak.

When she got out of the car to check, leaving the keys in the ignition, the man jumped into the driver’s seat and took off.

Police said a second man ran up the road and escaped in another car.

The following afternoon, a dark people carrier flashed a blue light after pulling in behind a motorist.

When he stopped, a man told him to get out of the vehicle and asked to look inside.

Once in the driver’s seat he drove off and the second man followed behind in the people carrier.

Police believe the incidents are linked.

Detective Sergeant Dominic Bolas said: “These thefts have happened in a short space of time and appear to be specific to this local area. We would urge the public to be vigilant and anyone approached by a plain-clothed police officer should feel comfortable speaking to them and can always ask to check their ID which should be on them at all times.

“Local officers have been made aware of these incidents and will be instructed to be mindful if making stops while not in uniform and to make their identity clear.”