Gutted Northamptonshire driver finds out the hard way his nice new Mercedes was stolen in July

An unsuspecting motorist is out of pocket to the tune of around £10,000 after police broke the news his new Mercedes was STOLEN!

Officers swooped on the Mercedes E220 in Northamptonshire after identifying the vehicle as one that had been stolen across the border in Cambridgeshire back in July.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire's Rural Police team said: "The Mercedes will be returned to its rightful owner while the innocent purchaser is now without a vehicle."

AutoTrader, which advertises used cars online offered private and trade sellers, has a list of do's and don'ts which can help spot stolen vehicles.

A spokesman said: "Stolen vehicles are usually passed on with their identity changed —, but there are some golden rules to help reduce the risk of buying a stolen vehicle.

"Make sure you see an original copy of the logbook, the V5C registration document, and check it carries its DVLA watermark.

"Also check the car's number plate and Vehicle Identification Number match those recorded on the logbook.

"Never buy a car without its logbook. Stolen vehicles are often sold this way with the seller claiming it has been sent to the DVLA for updating. That may be the case but there is no way of checking,

"Ensure the seller’s address on the logbook matches the one on their driving licence or utility bill and iinvest in a full vehicle check for extra peace on mind.

"Even if a vehicle is bought in good faith and it turns out to be stolen, lenders can still demand payment if it has been bought on finance.