'Fake Police' carry out robbery in Reading
A man has £40,000 stolen after being stopped by vehicle displaying blue lights
A man has had £40,000 stolen after being stopped in central Reading by what he believed were Police.
At approximately 3.10pm yesterday (15/7), the victim, a man aged in his forties, was driving along Sidmouth Street in Reading when he was directed to pull over by a black Mitsubishi Outlander, which was displaying blue lights.
Three offenders got out of the vehicle wearing fake police fleeces and threatened the victim with incapacitant spray, before stealing approximately £40,000 worth of foreign currency.
Two men, aged 23 and 18, both from London, have been arrested for a number of offences including robbery, dangerous driving and impersonating a police officer and they remain in police custody.
Two other suspects, including the driver of the Mitsubishi, remain outstanding at this time.
One of these two suspects was wearing a black hooded top, black trousers and a black facemask, but general and ethnicity is not known.
There is no description available of the driver of the Mitsubishi.
The Mitsubishi was displaying a partial number plate of CK68 before later changing plates with a partial registration of LX18.
The victim did not sustain any injuries in the incident.
Ordeal
Detective Constable Jen Cox, of the Reading Priority Crime Team said:
“This was a frightening ordeal for the victim, who pulled over for what he presumed to be police officers, before being robbed.
“Thankfully, he was not injured as a result of the incident and two arrests have been made.
“I am appealing to anybody who was driving in the area of Sidmouth Street or nearby roads between 3pm and 3.20pm on Monday to please check your dash-cams and contact Thames Valley Police if it has captured the incident.
“I would also urge any other witnesses to this incident or anybody who may have CCTV footage to please get in touch.
“You can contact us by making a report online or by calling 101, quoting reference 43240336177.
“Alternatively, for 100% anonymity, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”