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The Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit identified and seized stolen cars and parts valued at £216k in a single day as part of a national operation.
The team of PC Paul Gerrish and PC Phil Pentelow recover stolen cars and use the intelligence gathered to hunt down other missing vehicles and tackle the criminal gangs behind the thefts.
Since the start of the year, the team of have recovered 546 vehicles worth £11.6 million. They also work with manufacturers including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, and Toyota-Lexus to improve vehicle security.
The team were involved in the recent six-force intensification week led by Op Opal – the national organisation that leads in serious acquisitive crime, alongside the National Crime Agency, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service and ports police.
Nationally, 180 people were arrested and 316 stolen vehicles with a value of more than £4m were recovered.
Here’s a one-day snapshot of the SVIU’s work during that week:
7.30am:
The team are contacted by an off-duty officer who believes he’s spotted a Land Rover Discovery with false number plates. Research confirms it is a clone so the team head straight out and track down the vehicle.
PC Gerrish and PC Pentelow verify the number plates are false and establish the vehicle – worth £28,000 - was stolen earlier in September in the west of the county and is suspected of being used in further criminality. The car is seized for forensic examination.
9.30am:
PC Gerrish and PC Pentelow then head to check a number of sites in the west of Essex where stolen cars have previously been hidden. Their proactive work pays off as they locate and recover two vehicles recently stolen in London, worth £14,000.
Midday:
An ongoing investigation by the SVIU and partner agencies into vehicles being stolen and exported has led to the identification and seizure of a shipping container at London Gateway Port due to head to West Africa.
The container is moved to the site of the team’s recovery partners for examination. It is found to contain two Range Rovers and a Toyota Land Cruiser with a combined value of £83,000. Two of the vehicles had been reported stolen in London with the other being taken from Essex.
All were fitted with false plates and will be forensically examined.
3pm onwards:
The team receive a message from colleagues in Hertfordshire regarding a potential Essex chop shop – a premises where stolen vehicles dismantled for parts or given false identities – they had located.
PC Pentelow deploys to the scene while PC Gerrish continues to work on the vehicles from the container.
At the chop shop, the remains of four stolen cars with a combined value of £91,000 are discovered. All had been stolen from outside of the county.
Having collated evidence and further intelligence from both locations, the team end the day with a debrief call and discuss plans for the next day.
PC Paul Gerrish said: “It was very satisfying to prevent the stolen vehicles from reaching their intended destinations as the force have committed more resources into disrupting and dismantling the criminal networks responsible for the thefts.
“Our job is to hunt down stolen vehicles that will provide evidence for investigations and lead to arrests. We are a small team but we strive to return stolen property, no matter what the value or who the victim may be.
“There’s no such thing as a slow day for us as the thieves are always looking for opportunities. It’s non-stop, and when we’re not out tracking the vehicles down, we’re doing the vital background work and piecing together the intelligence.
“We often find personal possessions inside cars and return to them – items that aren’t covered on any insurance claim and have sentimental value. Whilst we may not get everyone’s car back, we do everything we can.
“We know how and where these gangs operate, and our operations are limiting their ability to function. The most satisfying part of the job is returning a car or van to an owner as these are the vehicles people rely on in their day-to-day lives.”
If you’re worried about the security of your vehicle, PC Phil Pentelow said there are simple steps to take:
“Learn your car’s vulnerabilities. There are videos online where you can find this information out. At the very least, consider investing in a Disklok for your steering wheel. The website Secured by Design recommends safety devices for your car – it may be additional immobilising, OBD protection or Faraday bags for keys, but this is model specific.
“However, the biggest vulnerability is leaving your car unlocked. Double lock your car and check it, every time.”