Cricketer Laurie Evans has Mercedes stolen by thief who answered For Sale car advert pretending to buy motor
Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
Cricketer Laurie Evans had his car stolen 'in front of his eyes' by someone pretending they were interested in buying it.
The sportsman has advertised his car on Auto Trader and was showing it to a potential customer on New Year's Day.
"A guy rang me up and said he was interested and wanted to come and have a look at it," Laurie told Mirror Online.
"He came along a couple of hours later around 3.30pm and I started showing him the car, as you do.
(Photo: Getty Images Europe)
"He asked if he could sit in the car and he turned the ignition on and just drove off."
The sportsman ran after the car but realised he could not catch up, and so reported the car stolen to police.
He believes the driver sped off from the driveway of his girlfriend's home in Oxsted, Surrey, towards the M25, adding: "He could be anywhere."
Laurie described the man, who was six foot in height, as being in his late 20s to early 30s, and "very skinny".
He revealed his bad start to the New Year on Twitter, posting: "Just had my car stolen in front of my eyes in Surrey. Black Mercedes e-class BL65RYF.
"Please keep an eye out," he added.
(Photo: Birmingham Mail)
The 29-year-old said the car, which he was selling for £24,995, was filled with goods of huge sentimental value, including his cricket bats and signed shirts.
These are the things he hopes to recover as he says they are what he "cares about most".
The batsman, who was recently signed by Sussex County Cricket Club on a three-year contract after leaving Warwickshire, said: "I have just moved from Warwickshire to Sussex so I was in the process of moving stuff down.
(Photo: Getty Images)
"I had my two cricket bags in the back [of the car].
"In one of the big bags was all my cricket stuff.
"I had a few signed shirts in there, signed by by Warwickshire teammates, which was a shame.
"They're things that have special sentimental value to me."
Laurie also revealed that one of his favourite bats was also in the back of the stolen car.
"It's hard to explain to anyone how attached you can get to a bat but if you play cricket you would understand," he said.
"I had a couple of really special ones in there, including one that I used in the 20/20 final three years ago when I won man of the match.
"It's the best bat I've ever had. It doesn't look like much to anyone else but it's my number one. I'm gutted to lose it.
"It's disappointing because I'm moving counties and it would be nice to have a few familiar items I can take with me to a new environment," he added.
His fans reacted to the news with shock after he revealed the theft on social media, with many promising to keep a look out for the black Mercedes in their areas.
"That's awful, hideous start to year!" one wrote.
Another commented: "Sorry to hear your terrible news Laurie, hope it all gets sorted for you, will keep my eyes peeled around the midlands."
While another posted: "That's tough man, hope it will be recovered soon."
Mirror Online has contacted Surrey Police and Auto Trader for comment.
If anyone has seen the car, please contact Surrey Police by calling their non-emergency number 101.