Havering Joint Task Force lead the fight against motor vehicle crime

Havering Joint Task Force lead the fight against motor vehicle crime

Met officers have arrested 17 people and recovered 13 stolen vehicles as part of a crackdown on car crime in east London.

Over a week-long operation officers from the local policing team worked tirelessly to tackle motor vehicle crime. They also identified 290 stolen vehicles in parts and have seized six signal jammers found at ‘chop shops’.

The 17 people were arrested for various offences, including handling stolen goods, drink driving, possession of bladed article, aggravated vehicle taking. Most of those arrested have been bailed.

Officers from the Met's Havering Joint Task Force, working alongside teams from elsewhere in the Met, as well as Essex Police officers, located three ‘chop-shops’, in Barking, Upminster and Brentwood. Officers carried out pro-active patrols, crime prevention stalls, followed tracker activations, carried out stop and searches and drivers of cars reported for various driving offences.

The Havering Joint Task Force visited Folkes Lane, Upminster, where a stolen van was parked, in the rear of the van they found a stolen broken-down car. Whilst officers were waiting for recovery of the van, they heard an angle grinder close by and were told of another tracker activating near to their location. Officers were trying to locate the tracker, when two men came out of one of the units. The officers could see inside the unit, and found the stolen car, signal jammers and various tools. The two men were arrested for handling stolen goods. Investigation continues.

The Havering Joint Task Force were following a tracker activation of a stolen car leading to Little Hall Lane, Brentwood. Officers liaised with Essex Police for assistance and successfully found the stolen car, they have also recovered another four stolen cars from within Metropolitan Police area.

Officers from the East Area Pro-active Unit patrolling around Havering, attempted to speak to three teenagers near a moped. One of the teenagers was found hiding in a bush nearby. The boy admitted discarding the keys to the stolen moped. The 14-year-old boy was arrested for handling stolen goods, he has been bailed since. Investigation continues.

East Interceptors were patrolling around Harold Hill, when they attempted to stop 2 stolen mopeds. Police pursued the two mopeds, and four teenagers were arrested for handling stolen goods.

Officers from East Area Pro-active Unit were out on patrols in Collier Row, when they indicated for a BMW to stop, the driver of the car made off from police, and after a short pursuit, the car stopped. 2 of the 4 occupants of the car were arrested for driving offences.

Car crime impacts everyone, from consumers to the businesses and insurance premiums. Our officers continue to work hard to tackle it and vehicles crime offences are down almost 16 per cent compared to this time last year.

Inspector Mark Connolly, from the Met's local policing team in east London, said:

“Tackling vehicle crime remains a priority for the Met. The Havering Joint Task Force in collaboration with partners works tirelessly to disrupt and prevent this type of crime along with a raft of other priorities.

"These results are a fraction of the work they carry out on a daily basis. We use intelligence led policing tactics to identify offenders and identify trends working closely for the community.

"Crime prevention is an important tool for the team. Residents need to ensure they lock and secure vehicles. Use faraday bags for keyless cars. Steering locks and other anti-theft devices to deter thieves. I would ask residents to remain vigilant as the evenings become darker earlier and use www.metengage.co.uk to contact your teams with any suspicious behaviour along with 101 and 999."

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Jovita Kazakauskaite
(Metropolitan Police, Communications Officer, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Havering)