Police are appealing for information and asking members of the public to be vigilant following a robbery in the Batford area of Harpenden in the early hours of this morning.

At around 12.15am a man in his 50s was driving along the Lower Luton Road when he noticed blue lights behind him. Believing this was a police car he stopped before he and his passenger, another man, were confronted by four offenders.

One of the offenders put his hand through the driver’s window, which the driver had opened, before forcible removing the car keys from the ignition.

The second offender then searched the victim and an amount of cash was taken from his pockets. The other two offenders searched the passenger and also took money.

The offenders are described as male and wearing masks. They also had their heads and faces covered. The car they were using was silver, possibly a Ford Fiesta.

Detective Constable Mandy Davies from the Local Crime Unit at St Albans police station is investigating and said: “I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw a small silver car or drove past the incident to contact police with information.

“I would like to reassure members of the public that this is the only reported incident of this nature but I would ask drivers to remain vigilant.

"It is understandable that law-abiding members of the public would want to stop for police, but we would stress officers would normally be in uniform.

"If you are unsure please remain in your vehicle until you can ascertain the person is a police officer.”

Anyone with information should contact DC Davies via the Herts police non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference number F2/14/75. Alternatively call Crimestoppers, the independent charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111.