Around 80 holiday-makers have had their cars “stolen” after leaving them with an airport meet and greet car company in London.
Travellers who paid up to £145 ($A250) to Heathrow valet company Terminal Universal said the firm’s phones were off and their vehicles were missing, The Sun reports.
One victim, Joanne Greedy, 39, of Cardiff, said: “There was nothing we could do, so in the end we paid £100 ($A175) for a train home.”
Metropolitan Police have found 70 of the vehicles, with some discovered in a field about 24km from Heathrow Airport, the main international airport serving London.
A 25-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of theft and released pending further inquiries.
Terminal Universal Ltd has not responded to requests for comment.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Detectives based at Heathrow Airport are investigating a number of reports of stolen vehicle[s] linked to a meet and greet parking service which operated from the airport.
“Over the last month, police have received around 80 separate reports of vehicles, which had been left in the care of the meet and greet company but had not been returned.
“Around 70 of these vehicles have been recovered and work is under way to return them to their owners.
“Inquiries into the circumstances continue, including to locate any remaining vehicles.
“A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft.
“He has been released under investigation pending further inquiries.”
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
