Thieves posing as tow-truck drivers have taken up to 30 cars from outside houses and car parks in the Black Country before selling them on as scrap, the Express & Star can reveal.

The criminals are using authentic-looking flat bed lorries and lifting equipment to remove vehicles in the the middle of the day .

Old cars are being targeted so as not to arouse suspicion at scrap yards, although some with a higher value have also been taken.

Today police said the Lye, Cradley and Brierley Hill areas of Dudley had been targeted, but similar thefts are under investigation in Sandwell.

Sgt Mick Wennen, from Dudley police, said: “These people are mainly targetting cars of lower value, over 10 years old, which are parked up on drives, large car parks or outside houses, and have been left unattended.

“The low loader is then pulling up, loading the car on and simply driving off.

Police believe the cars, which have been going missing over the past three months, could be destined for unscrupulous scrap dealers who are accepting the cars for cash.

Victim Christopher Newton had his Volvo 940 estate stolen from outside his house in William Street, Brierley Hill, by the thieves, who may be operating in one or more gangs.

The 49-year-old MoT tester thought his car was safe, with its steering wheel and gearbox immobilisers. Mr Newton, who works at a garage in Netherton, said: “Nobody would have taken a blind bit of notice because it was a recovery truck and there’s no way it could have been removed without one.

“It would have been a five minute operation, or less, to take it. The police are telling me that the problem is rife in the area.

The scrap metal merchants don’t ask any questions, especially now with metal prices high.”

He said his car would have only been worth around £900, and would have fetched just a few hundred pounds of scrap value.

“I’ve got a £500 excess and there’s all the inconvenience and anxiety,” he added.

Officers have been using automatic numberplate recognition cameras to track tow trucks across the Dudley, and drivers are being stopped to have their paperwork checked.