A CARJACKING victim is warning others after a potential buyer turned out to be a car thief.

Muriel O’Connell had a gloved hand put over her mouth so she did not scream before three men made off with her BMW 1 Series M-Sport from outside her house in Byne Road, Sydenham.

One of the crooks had been posing as a car buyer called ‘John’ who contacted the 36-year-old after she posted a for sale advert on a website.

Earlier in the week he had called Ms O’Connell and asked questions including whether it was possible to lie down in the BMW’s boot.

He arrived at her house at around 9.50pm on Saturday evening and Ms O’Connell says he seemed geeky and trustworthy.

But when two hooded men pulled up in another car things became more sinister.

She said: “I was thinking just to get away [and] I think the intention was to take me somewhere.

“I did not doubt for a minute that they could have been armed.

“I just want to make people aware that if they are advertising cars on the web, to be really cautious.”

All three men are described as being slim, around 6ft tall and black.

The man who called himself ‘John’ was wearing Bench jeans, a creamy fawn coloured cardigan, glasses and had a messenger style bag.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the police on 01689 891212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.