Three bogus police officers handcuffed two men and abducted them from a Brighton street, it emerged today (Monday 1 August).
The bogus cops told their victims that they were stopping their car for a drugs search before handcuffing them and forcing them into another car and driving off with them.
One escaped, the other was released and their car, which had been driven off by one of the bogus policemen, was later found abandoned.
Sussex Police said: “Two men were handcuffed and driven off after being stopped in Brighton by three people who they thought to be police officers.
“The victims, aged 24 and 44, were in a blue Vauxhall Corsa and drove into Park Close around 10pm on Saturday 9 July.
“They were followed in by a dark coloured BMW which prevented them from leaving the close before three men got out of it.
“They approached the Corsa and told the driver to get out for a drugs search.
“Both men were handcuffed, forced into the back of the BMW and driven off.
“They realised that their abductors were not police officers and one escaped from the car in Lewes Road soon after.
“The other man was driven around Brighton and released in the Ladies Mile Road area of Patcham a little later. Both sustained minor injuries
“The three suspects were all wearing police-style stab vests. Two were white and one was of mixed race.
“One of the white men was in his thirties, 5ft 8in to 5ft 9in, of medium build with grown-out cropped style hair and a clear complexion. He spoke with a Scouse accent.
“The mixed race man was in his late thirties to early forties, about 5ft 11in, with a long face, jet black hair, dark sideburns and freckles on one cheek. He had a London accent. He was wearing beige three-quarter length combat shorts, a white long sleeve T-shirt and tight dark lycra matt gloves.
“A third suspect drove the victims’ car which was found abandoned in Appledore Road just before 10.30pm.
“Detectives want to speak to anyone who may have witnessed or have information about any aspect of the incident.”
Anyone with any information is asked to phone Sussex Police on 101, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
