Stolen vehicle found stashed in lorry on cloned plates

Our Road Crime Team uncovered a stolen Kia inside a cloned HGV during countywide patrols focused on vehicle theft.

On Thursday 22 February, our Road Crime Team received information of a 7.5 tonne HGV in the Brentwood area, displaying false plates.

Officers deployed to the area and extended their search, crossing the border into east London where they located the HGV in Chadwell Heath. A short pursuit followed, but the driver decamped and made off.

When our Road Crime Team (RCT) officers opened the rear doors, they discovered a stolen Kia vehicle in the rear.

The lorry and car were both removed for forensic examination.

'We're out on the roads every day'

PC Paul Simmons, of our Road Crime Team, said:

“This was a great piece of work by the team, in partnership with our Operational Support Group. They’re out there every day tackling this priority issue, to identify offenders and recover stolen vehicles.
“Just because there’s a border between Essex and London doesn’t mean we will give up: we will use any forensic evidence to pursue those responsible for this crime.”

That same night they recovered a further two vehicles including a stolen Kent vehicle in located in Basildon and a Ford Transit abandoned in Tilbury: both vehicles were displaying false plates to disguise their true identity.

In addition, their countywide proactive patrols saw them make four arrests for drink and drug driving, two of those drivers didn’t have driving licences or insurance and they seized three vehicles for no insurance.

The Road Crime Team is a dedicated team of officers tackling the increasingly complex issue of vehicle thefts working hard to disrupt organised gangs behind this criminality, to protect car owners and communities from the harm caused by vehicle thefts.

Their latest success comes after the same team arrested three men when they stopped a stolen car from London on Sunday 18 February.

They have been released on bail whilst we continue our enquiries.

PC Simmons added:

“These results aren’t a fluke, it’s hard work coupled with determined officers using intelligence and a keen sense about things that look suspicious or just don’t add up, that gets results.”

And it’s not just one night’s work.

Since Saturday 17 February, the RCT has arrested a total of 15 people which includes, one for fraud in another force area, two drivers failing to provide specimens for drink driving and one for taking a vehicle without consent of its owner.

They seized a total of nine vehicles for no insurance and recovered five vehicles.

If you have any information about organised crime involving stolen vehicles or where a stolen vehicle may be, please contact us on 101.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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