Essex police find six stolen cars in containers at county port
The force says tackling vehicle theft is one of its priorities
Police in Essex are investigating after six stolen vehicles were found in containers at a port in the county.
They were found as officers searched for a stolen Toyota CHR they were tracking on the M25 on Tuesday 1st April.
The Roads Policing Unit and Rural Engagement Team followed it to an Essex port, but the search ended abruptly when they discovered the car could have been in any one of 10 containers.
The following day, officers from the Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit (SVIU) returned and worked with port staff to identify a single container of interest.
When the container was opened, they discovered three stolen Toyota CHR vehicles.
On Friday 4th April, a stolen Lexus NX450 was reported on the move on the A13; it too made its way to the same port and was found inside a lorry’s container, along with two other Lexus cars piled up inside.
The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), a national policing unit that works with police forces and industry to disrupt criminality involving serious and organised vehicle theft crime, has taken over the recovery of the stolen vehicles.
Essex Police's investigations are ongoing.
Inspector Emma Patterson, Roads Policing and Specialist Support Teams, said: "I’d like to thank partners at the Border Control Point who helped us recover the containers housing the six stolen vehicles and allowing us to stop their export abroad.
"Vehicle crime is increasingly becoming more sophisticated and involves organised groups targeting cars to be sent abroad to realise cash for each car or their parts.
"We’ll continue to work with partner organisations such as NaVCIS to halt this trade making it less financially rewarding for criminals.
"Organised vehicle thefts and related criminal use of our roads won’t be tolerated, that’s why it’s a force priority.
"I’d ask anyone who knows of anyone involved in vehicle theft to contact us."