FLEET management specialist VELO has foiled an attempted car theft by a fraudster. The crook phoned VELO asking for the identification number of the key to a car, claiming he had bought it from a VELO customer and had since lost the key.

This alerted VELO staff because the company in question always returns its cars to VELO for disposal, and a quick check on the database showed the car was still on the client's fleet. VELO contacted the police and plain clothes officers lured the man to VELO's offices in Marlow.

He was arrested and later identified as a known criminal whom the Metropolitan Police wanted to question in connection with car thefts. Alan Hale, VELO's director of operations, said: 'This must go as a warning to all vehicle management companies, fleet operators and company car drivers to be vigilant at all times.'