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Thousands of blanks passports stolen

30/07/2008

A van containing 3,000 blank passports and visa stickers was targeted by at least one hijacker in Chadderton as the driver went in to a newsagent to buy a chocolate bar and a newspaper.

The passports were being transported in an unarmoured white Citroen from Oldham to London.

Police say the passports, which were destined for overseas embassies, have a black market value of £2.5 million.

A second delivery man was attacked and forced to keep his head down as the hijacker drove off with the van.

The vehicle was abandoned and the second delivery man, who suffered minor injuries, remained in his seat until he was sure it was safe. He then discovered the passports had been taken.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "This latest security failure is all the more shocking, given the ... string of other government failures to secure confidential documents and personal information."

The Foreign Office has admitted the theft is a "serious breach of security" and has begun an investigation into the robbery.

Greater Manchester Police say it is not clear whether the passports were the intended target.