Websites being used to sell stolen cars

GARDAÍ believe a gang is using websites specialising in second-hand goods and cars to sell off stolen cars to unsuspecting buyers.

A Roscommon man was arrested in Cork last Friday on suspicion of selling a stolen two-year-old Ford Mondeo on a popular site and of obtaining €7,000 through deception.

The 08 Laois-registered car was stolen on November 24 last at Enfield, Co Meath, as a man and his young daughter were dropping off bottles at a recycling centre. The car was posted for sale on the internet site on December 3 and purchased four days later by a non-national in east Cork.

The car had been fitted with false D-registration number plates, which matched a similar make and model. The asking price was €7,650 as the car had damage to two side-doors. Detectives believe that, after being stolen it was driven into a narrow space, possibly a lock-up which resulted in the damage. The unsuspecting buyer thought it was a bargain and managed to beat the seller down to €7,000 when they met to do the deal at a service station in Little Island, Co Cork.

When the buyer went to tax the vehicle, which had approximately 70,000 miles on the clock, he found that the registration didn’t match the chassis number and informed the gardaí.

Detectives made a breakthrough after viewing CCTV footage at the Little Island service station.

They were able to identify the 35-year-old seller from Roscommon, who was later arrested and taken to Fermoy Garda Station in Co Cork for questioning.

The man was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

Gardaí believe an Irish gang is behind the theft of cars which they try and sell on through internet sites. They say it is likely further arrests will follow as the investigation continues.

“People should be very careful about buying cars through the internet from people they don’t know.

“They should always get the car thoroughly checked out to see it is legitimate before parting with any cash,” the Garda spokesman said.