FAKE police officers attempting to pull over motorists with flashing blue lights have stolen a car and prompted four reports.

At around 6.30pm on March 14, a man in his twenties was driving along Wigley Bush Lane in South Weald when a silver Vauxhall flashed its blue lights.

He stopped believing it was a police car.

Two suspects got out of their vehicle, threatened the man, stole his black Ford Fiesta and drove both cars away.

Four reports of similarly suspicious behaviour in the Epping Forest area followed.

Drivers told police a black vehicle and a silver Vauxhall vehicle urged them to stop with flashing blue lights.

On one occasion, a woman stopped but drove off after becoming suspicious.

The incidents happened between 7.50pm and 8.30pm in Chester Road and Roding Lane, Chigwell, and Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill.

The suspects have been described as being white men, aged in their late teens and early 20s and wore dark clothing, possibly hooded tops, baseball caps and jogging bottoms.

Superintendent Craig Saunders said: “The victim believed that he had been signalled to pull over by an unmarked police car and stopped.

“He was then approached by two men who demanded his car and drove off, leaving him by the roadside.

“We believe the suspects are driving with false plates and that the incidents are possibly linked.

“We would like to hear from anyone with information or anyone who has dashcam footage on 101 quoting crime reference 42/35026/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”