Fake cops rob mum in Alum Rock
Dec 10 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail
A MUM was attacked in front of her young child after being pulled over by two phoney police officers while driving through Birmingham.
The 28-year-old was driving along Clodeshall Road, in Alum Rock, when the bogus officers following behind in a dark car flashed for her to stop.
The official-looking duo asked the woman about her car insurance and ownership documents before grabbing her handbag.
The victim, a teacher at a nearby mosque, whose child was in the car, grappled with the robbers to stop them taking her bag but they made a sickening threat to sexually assault her before she was shoved to the ground.
Detectives in Aston said last Thursday’s incident was “unique” and something not seen in the city for years and urged drivers to be on their guard for the ruse.
Det Sgt Rich Cox, from Queen’s Road CID, said real officers would never flash their headlights to pull someone over adding that even unmarked police cars were fitted with blue lights and sirens to stop motorists.
Appealing for witnesses to come forward, he said the incident happened during rush-hour in a busy part of Alum Rock.
“The young lady was driving home from the mosque when she was flashed down by a dark car from behind that she took to be a police car,” he said.
“Two men initially impersonated themselves as police officers and asked her a number of questions about vehicle ownership and insurance.
“They have grabbed her handbag and used force and threats before getting into their vehicle and making off.
“I would appeal for anyone who may have been in the area at about 6.50pm on Thursday December 3 and seen a woman stopped by two men in a dark car, possibly a Ford Focus to come forward.”
He also appealed for anyone else who may have been flashed in a similar incident but not stopped to come forward.
Det Sgt Cox said: “We suspect this a random attack and the woman was picked out because she was on her own.
“This was a unique incident and not something we have seen in Birmingham for some time. All police cars used blues and twos to stop motorists and will never flash their headlights only.”
The offenders were described as white, in their mid 20s, one was 5ft 11in tall and his accomplice 5ft 9in tall.
