A PAIR of thieves dressed as police officers stole a car after stopping the driver and persuading him to get out.

The men were driving a grey Volkswagen Passat car equipped with blue flashing lights which they used to pull over a black Audi A1 in East Kilbride's Mavor Avenue at around 7pm on Sunday. 

Dressed in police uniforms, the two suspects were able to convince the Audi's driver to leave his vehicle before one of them drove off in it as the other thief made off in the fake police car. 

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The 28-year-old victim then called police. 

It follows a similar incident earlier the same evening at around 6.30pm near to the First Glass pub on Cambuslang's Hamilton Road. 

In that case the driver refused to exit his car, and asked to see the bogus officer's warrant card, prompting the suspects to flee. 

The man who approached both vehicles is described as white, approximately 5ft 8in, medium build with short brown gelled hair.

He was wearing black cargo trousers, black utility belt, black body armour and was seen speaking into a hand-held radio. 

Detective sergeant Graeme Begley at Airdrie CID said: "This causes great concern that there are individuals out there posing as police officers and managing to con members of the public as they go about their daily business.

"I would like to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity at the time either of these incidents took place and who may have witnessed either incident or perhaps saw the suspects hanging around the areas in their car.

"I'd also like to remind anyone who has any concerns regarding the authenticity of a police officer to simply ask for identification - any legitimate police officer will always be in possession of this and happy to produce when asked. "

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Anyone with information that can assist enquiries is asked to contact police at Airdrie via 101.

Alternatively calls came by made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.