Gardaí on the hunt for cheeky thief who stole Mercedes from owner's home after posing as a potential buyer

The black Mercedes stolen in Donegal

Gardaí in Co Donegal are investigating the theft of a Mercedes car after a brazen thief posing as a potential buyer stole it during a test drive.

The black Mercedes E 200 Avantgrade car was taken from underneath the nose of the owner outside his home in Letterkenny on Wednesday.

The car had been listed for sale and the ‘buyer’ called the owner to arrange to look at the car and take it for a spin. The buyer called at the owner’s home at Carnamuggagh after 10.30pm on Wednesday evening.

The conman pretended to check the tyres and also the car’s brake pads, pretending they were genuinely interested in buying the car. He then sat in the driver’s seat to ‘get a feel’ for the motor.

However, the owner was left shocked when the potential buyer suddenly sped off, leaving the owner in the driveway of their home without their car.

The owner contacted Gardaí and reported the cheeky theft of the car. Gardaí have also appealed to people not to fall for the scam.

The car’s registration is 161D16609 and it is also fitted with a ‘N’ plate. A Garda spokesperson confirmed that an investigation into the theft is ongoing.

“Gardaí are investigating the unauthorised taking of a vehicle at a residence in Carnamuggah, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal that occurred at approximately 11:00pm last night, Wednesday 10^th April 2024,” a spokesperson said.

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.