Around 80 people have reported their cars stolen after leaving them with a valet parking service operating at Heathrow airport.
Police have arrested a man on suspicion of theft, while dozens of the vehicles have been recovered - some reportedly found in a field around 15 miles from the terminal.
Furious customers are understood to have left their cars with the “meet and greet” firm before returning to the airport to find their vehicles missing, and the company failing to answer its phone line.
One woman named Danielle Evans wrote on Twitter: “We’ve had two cars stolen from a parking company...who operate near the airport. Anyone in a similar position that we can connect with? The airport said there were a lot of us!”
Another user named Freddie Hall wrote: “My van was stolen by these companies. I get no response when trying to call.”
Another man told how his car was stolen from Heathrow airport on December 30, before later being found parked in a street in Slough.
Scotland Yard said it has received around 80 separate reports of stolen vehicles in the space of just a month.
“Detectives based at Heathrow Airport are investigating a number of reports of stolen vehicle linked to a meet and greet parking service which operated from the airport,” said a Met Police spokesperson.
“Over the last month, police have received around 80 separate reports of vehicles, which had been left in the care of the meet and greet company but had not been returned.
“Around 70 of these vehicles have been recovered and work is underway to return them to their owners.
“Enquiries into the circumstances continue, including to locate any remaining vehicles.
“A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft. He has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.”
