Stolen Rental Car Up for Sale - Detected Thief (44 years old)

The Cologne Police are reminding the public to exercise caution when buying used vehicles online, following a recent case involving forged vehicle documents and arrests.

On August 25th, a 44-year-old man was temporarily arrested by Cologne Police in Cologne-Dellbrück. The suspect had rented a VW Tayron and offered it for sale on an internet platform, providing false information about the vehicle. The car, which had Cologne license plates, was actually registered to a VW Golf.

Around 10 pm, the "sellers" contacted a potential buyer to hand over the car at a new meeting point. However, police intervened at this point and made an arrest. The 44-year-old had an arrest warrant against him for endangering road traffic and a wanted notice for fencing.

A 21-year-old man was apprehended in Düsseldorf later the same night. The 21-year-old is now facing charges, including attempting to cover up a crime. During a search of the 44-year-old's belongings, forged vehicle documents were found.

The advice to be vigilant when buying vehicles via online platforms is given in response to this case. The Cologne Police advise potential buyers to check official documents for errors or inconsistencies, and to avoid risky deals. They also advise against engaging in barter deals at private addresses.

If you suspect a scam when buying a used vehicle online, the Cologne Police advise reporting it to them. For more information on scams in online used car sales, visit the Cologne Police's official website at https://koeln.polizei.nrw.

Press inquiries from journalists should be directed to the Police Headquarters Cologne Press Office at Walter-Pauli-Ring 2-6, 51103 Cologne, Germany, Tel: 0221/229 5555, Email: [email protected]

The Cologne Police remind the public to be vigilant and cautious when buying used vehicles online, especially when dealing with suspicious activity such as a vehicle being offered at a significantly low price.