Stolen car found stashed in Brentwood lorry after Essex Police chase

Officers following a tip-off about a 7.5-tonne heavy goods vehicle with cloned plates chased it across the Essex border into Chadwell Heath on Thursday. Police say the driver then ran away.

When road crime team officers opened the doors, they found a stolen Kia in the back. The lorry and the car were both seized for forensic examination.

On the same night, officers recovered a vehicle that had been stolen from Kent in Basildon, along with a stolen Ford Transit van abandoned in Tilbury.

Police stopped the HGV in East London. (Image: Essex Police)

Police Constable Paul Simmons, from the 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.”

Countywide patrols also saw officers make four arrests for drink and drug driving. Two of those drivers did not have licences or insurance. Three vehicles were seized for no insurance.

Road crime team officers tackle the “increasingly complex” issue of vehicle thefts, disrupting organised gangs behind the crimes to protect car owners and communities from harm caused by vehicle thefts.

The stolen Kia was found in the back of the lorry. (Image: Essex Police)

Since last Saturday, the team has arrested a total of 15 people. The collars include one for fraud in another force area, two drivers failing to provide specimens for drink driving, and one for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

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

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, that gets results.”