Car dealer turns detective to solve crime

4:38pm Tuesday 15th April 2008

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An angry car dealer who had a vehicle stolen from his garage solved the case himself after finding the hatchback on eBay.

Martin Hickey, of Autotech in Wandsworth, was livid when a thief posed as a customer and used a fraudulent banker's draft to steal an Audi A3 Sport, worth £1,100.

“I nearly fell off my chair. They were so unconcerned about being caught that they didn’t even change the registration."

Martin Hickey

Frustrated with the apparent lack of help from the police, Mr Hickey turned detective and set about tracking down the vehicle.

After scouring all the car trading websites, he was stunned to come across the Audi on auction site eBay.

"I nearly fell off my chair. They were so unconcerned about being caught that they didn't even change the registration," he said.

Mr Hickey then contacted the police again with his findings, but was unimpressed by what he heard.

"An officer told me to call eBay and get the advert taken off the site, but I said I'd never see my car again. This was my one chance to get it back and I had to act."

The dealer hatched a plan, getting his teenage nephew to call the seller and ask to buy the car for his 18th birthday.

His nephew set up a meeting in Romford, and Mr Hickey enlisted his two brothers and a business partner to surround the site for the handover.

After "a bit of a scuffle", Mr Hickey got his car, complete with six months' worth of newly paid tax, back from the seller, who claimed he had been offered money to flog the vehicle on.

Mr Hickey also demanded the registration documents back, and was stunned when they were posted to him along with a request for the dance music CDs that had been left in the car.

"I couldn't believe they had so much front. These people aren't bothered by the police, but it makes sense now.

"I live 50 yards from Wandsworth police station, and I called them so many times. If there had been a robbery at a bank they would have sent helicopters and everything. What's the difference in this case?"

Detective Constable Stephen Greig of Wandsworth police said: "Mr Hickey contacted police to inform us that he had seen his stolen vehicle for sale on eBay.

"At this point Mr Hickey specifically stated that he did not wish for police to become involved in the recovery of his vehicle as he felt it would jeopardize its safe retrieval.

"Wandsworth police have a policy that without the full support and co-operation of the victim a meaningful investigation cannot take place."