A vigilant patrolling officer has led to the arrest of a man in connection with the recovery of eight stolen vehicles, thanks to the efforts of the Stolen Vehicle Investigation Unit.
Upon arrival, the officer discovered a black Lexus NX300 and a black Range Rover Sport, both of which displayed false registration plates.
Further inquiries revealed their true identities and the fact that both had been stolen in the days prior, one from London and the other in Essex.
Continuing their investigation, officers recovered four more cars for examination from St Francis Way, Grays, bringing the total to eight stolen vehicles, including Range Rovers, Kias, a Porsche, a Mercedes, and a Lexus, all of which had been reported as stolen.
Calling for assistance from colleagues in West Local and Community Policing Teams, a man was arrested on suspicion of multiple vehicle thefts, handling stolen goods/vehicles, and conspiracy to commit theft of motor vehicles.
During a search of a residence, officers from various districts collaborated, locating and seizing multiple vehicle keys, vehicle documents, assorted number plates, and a significant amount of cash.
The 35-year-old man has been released on bail until 8 February 2024 as investigations continue.
“This was a fantastic piece of work from teams across the force, working together to identify and recover a significant number of high-value stolen cars from across Essex, including two from London.
A suspicion by a colleague proved right and led to a 20-hour operation to forensically remove the vehicles so we can obtain the evidence we need to continue our investigation.
This find has resulted in significant disruption to organised criminal gangs associated with vehicle crime in Essex.”
Detective Inspector Brian Palombella, co-ordinating the investigation, said:
