Police in Maidstone are warning of a spare key scam being used to steal cars.

Two men asked to test drive a car being sold by a man in Downswood, Maidstone, and asked in advance on the phone whether the seller had a spare key.

One of the men asked to check whether the spare car key worked and then swapped the spare car key with another of the same make when they handed it back. The pair then claimed to be going to get the deposit and left.

Luckily, the car owner returned to the car immediately and realised that he had been given a dummy key.

Officers believe the offenders intended to steal the car once the owner had gone back inside his property.

Both offenders are described as Asian, in their late 20s with London accents. The man who test drove the car was wearing black leather gloves.

Anyone with information about this incident, which happened on Sunday, January 9, or the offenders is asked to contact police in Maidstone on 01622 604210 or Crimestoppers anonymously quoting cad log 09-1060.