Police and airport authorities across the UK have issued a stark warning to holidaymakers following a concerning rise in car thefts linked to some long-stay parking operators. The alert comes after a motorist returned from a holiday to discover his Volkswagen had been stolen from a meet-and-greet service at Heathrow Airport.
The Heathrow Holiday Nightmare
The incident involved a couple who, before jetting off, had booked a convenient meet-and-greet service to park their car at Heathrow. Upon their return to the UK, they called the number provided but were left waiting. "They didn't come," said the motorist, named Baxter. After phoning five times, the company eventually delivered devastating news: his car had been stolen, along with seven other vehicles.
Baxter is now pursuing an insurance claim that has been classed as "at fault", leaving him feeling penalised. "I feel that I am being made to feel like the guilty party, while the car park company seems as if it can walk away and carry on trading with no consequences," he stated.
Rogue Operators and Online Traps
Authorities are specifically warning travellers to be extremely wary of "unofficial" operators who advertise cheap long-stay parking online. Guy Hobbs, a travel expert at consumer group Which?, explained the problem. "Rogue operators are often prominently listed in search engine results and on some comparison sites," he said. "With generic names that change as soon as they attract poor reviews, consumers can easily be caught out. In some cases we believe the comparison site and provider to be one and the same."
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for the parking firm involved, Park at Airport, said: "We make it clear that vehicles may be moved between compounds. Unfortunately, there was a recent security breach that affected a relatively small number of customers. Since then, we have implemented enhanced security measures across all our compounds."
Ongoing Police Action and Traveller Advice
Sussex Police confirmed they are aware of ongoing public concerns. A spokesperson said: "Officers remain aware of ongoing concerns in the local area about the practices of some parking providers. They continue to work closely with the relevant authorities, including trading standards, to address these issues."
The key advice for drivers is:
- Research parking companies thoroughly, looking beyond the first page of search results.
- Check for genuine, verifiable reviews on independent sites and be sceptical of companies with generic names.
- Ensure the company is an official partner of the airport or operates from a well-known, secure compound.
- Consider using established, reputable firms even if their prices are slightly higher.
The case highlights the significant risks travellers can face when choosing cut-price parking options and underscores the importance of due diligence before handing over car keys.
