'Buyer' steals Aston super car

The Aston Martin DB7 is a sought-after marque

A luxury Aston Martin car worth more than £53,000 has been stolen by a brazen conman.

Strathclyde Police said the man, posing as prospective buyer, calmly drove off in the DB7 after a lunchtime stop during a test drive.

Detectives said the man, who said he was from the London area, was "very calm, professional and genuine sounding".

Officers are appealing for help in recovering the top of the range car, which is blue in colour and has an "R" prefix.

The theft took place when Ross Campbell, manager of Anniesland Trade Centre, took the bogus prospective buyer for a test drive on Wednesday afternoon.

The man suggested they stop for lunch at a Glasgow bar while they waited for the necessary paperwork to be completed for the purchase.

He was very well-spoken, well educated and well dressed. He spoke with an English accent, slightly posh, and his two mobile phones were going off all the time

Ross Campbell, garage manager

After a short time, the man said he was going to make a couple of calls and went outside.

A few minutes later Mr Campbell became suspicious at the length of time the man had been away and went outside to investigate.

He said the bogus customer's manner had been "totally professional" and the criminal played the part of the serious businessman to perfection.

"I've been selling cars for 22 years and I've seen every trick, but never carried out in that manner and to that level.

"He was very organised and very professional. He spent two hours here, he met all the criteria and he knew as much about cars as I do.

"If he'd been at all nervous or twitchy or had anything suspicious about him, I would have picked it up right away," said Mr Campbell.

Phones ringing

The man had explained he was looking at property in Nelson Mandela Place - one of the city centre's most prestigious addresses - and was interested in buying the blue Aston Martin.

"He was very well-spoken, well educated and well dressed. He spoke with an English accent, slightly posh, and his two mobile phones were going off all the time," he added.

The theft happened just after Mr Campbell had prepared the paperwork with the man to buy the car.

Mr Campbell admitted that his blood "ran cold" when he stepped out of the door and realised the Aston Martin was gone.

He said: "Right away I made a 999 call. The police put out an all-points bulletin and I phoned every taxi firm telling them to look out for a blue Aston Martin.

Took spare key

"If the car had been on the road it would have been seen. The only thing I can think is there was someone in close proximity with a container or a big box van he could have put it in.

"I had the keys in my pocket and there was an immobiliser on the car. I had two spare sets of keys in the office, but when I came back and checked there was only one.

"So he has very professionally taking one of the spare keys. It was no spur-of-the-moment thing."

Both the man and the car had gone.

The bogus buyer is described as 32 to 36 years of age, 6ft 3in tall, of slim build, with black collar-length hair and spoke with an English accent.

Detective Constable Kenny Nairn, of Partick CID, said: "I am appealing to anyone who may have seen it in the area or who may have any information as to its whereabouts to contact me on 0141 532 3500."

Information can also be passed anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.