A second van has been stolen by thieves impersonating police officers.

Following the theft of a vehicle on the M11 near Sheering on Saturday (July 23), a grey Volkswagen Transporter was stolen in similar circumstances on Monday (July 25).

Essex Police are warning drivers not to pull over for anything other than a marked police vehicle after the incident, at about 2.10pm on the M25 anti-clockwise between junction 28 near Brentwood and junction 27 near Epping.

A silver Ford Mondeo with a blue flashing light requested the van to pull over.

Three men pretending to be police officers made the driver get out of the vehicle.

No weapons were seen but the men had handcuffs.

Two of the thieves got in the van and both vehicles drove away.

The victim did not take down the Mondeo’s registration, but the stolen Volkswagen’s number plate is RE16 UCV.

On Saturday, four men in a silver Mondeo pulled over a white Mercedes Sprinter van as it travelled northbound on the M11 between junction seven in Hastingwood and junction eight at Stansted.

The men claimed to be police officers and one had a gun.

They stole the van, leaving the driver and passenger unharmed.

The Ford was registration LO62 FOU and the stolen Mercedes van KR60 NHZ.

DCI Stuart Smith from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate is leading both investigations due to their similarities.

He said: “In a direct response to these incidents occurring a direction has been given to our officers that they should not, unless in emergency circumstances, be in an unmarked car and attempt to stop a driver.

“We have taken this decision to safeguard motorists in Essex while these offenders remain outstanding.

“Our victims have told us that the suspects are purporting to be police officers and are wearing body armour to further enhance this deception in order to steal these vans.

“Anyone who is signalled at to stop by someone in a car which may appear to be an unmarked police is asked not to stop but to call 999 immediately to verify whether the vehicle and its occupants are genuine.”

People with information about either incident should contact detectives on 101.