COPS descended on various locations across the region recently in a focussed attempt to disrupt organised vehicle crime.

A particular focal point was the Port of Tilbury where chains in criminals' shipping chains were broken.

The action was taken as part of Vehicle Crime Intensification Week which Essex Police work jointly with other law enforcement agencies and forces including the National Crime Agency and Ports Police, resulting in recovery of stolen vehicles and parts valued at over half-a-million pounds.

The week-long operation ran from Monday 16 September and saw a targeted approach between law enforcement agencies to disrupt organised criminality and tackle the highest harm offenders and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) led operations at ports to recover stolen vehicles destined for overseas.

Detective Inspector Brian Palombella, who coordinated Essex Police's response said: "Those involved in serious organised vehicle crime will find it harder to commit their crimes in Essex as a result of this operation and our ongoing work because of our enhanced intelligence gathering, our ability to identify links to OCGs and taking positive action.

"In the past, cars were often stolen by opportunistic individuals who took a single car, but in recent years, vehicle thefts have become the focus of serious organised crime groups who operate much like those involved in drugs and who present a significant risk to our communities. 

"But we are determined to root them out of Essex, making it hostile for criminals and to protect our residents and businesses as vehicle theft is not a victimless crime."

During intensification week, 316 stolen vehicles were recovered nationally, with a value of more than £4m with 180 arrests made nationally.

As part of the joint response, Essex Police supported NaVCIS along with officers from City of London Police and Metropolitan Police at Tilbury Port on Tuesday, 17 September to tackle criminality in which stolen vehicles are loaded into containers awaiting shipment abroad.

Two containers were opened, both holding four cars each. 

On the day, the team was also supported by industry staff who were on hand to provide valuable advice on how to safely recover all vehicles and improve police force knowledge of current crime trends. 

Officer in a container at Tilbury finds a car covered by mattress and armchair.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston explained: "Continued delivery of our operational response is a priority, achieved by implementation of intelligence led deployments using a variety of tactics - from warrants at identified chop shops, pro-active patrols at vehicle crime hot spots, intercepting crimes in action - and using dedicated teams such as the Road Crime Team and the Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit to enhance our policing response.

"But our work doesn't end here.

"To help us meet that challenge, there will be dedicated investigation teams that will follow up last week's work so we can exploit all opportunities to secure charges."

Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Jeffery added: "At the beginning of the week of action, our Road Crime Team (RCT) arrested the driver of a stolen London-based Ford Focus. During the stop in Wickford, officers searched the car and found a number of items that could be used to steal other vehicles.

"By being proactive and responding quickly, we can detect the movement of stolen or cloned cars and identify and apprehend anyone concerned. 

"It sends a clear message to offenders that we are out there, calling a halt to car thefts and seizing offenders' equipment to prevent further crime.

"Stopping cars allows us to gather intelligence that we can feed back to teams from across the force and I'd encourage anyone who has information about stolen vehicles or who is involved in stealing them, to contact us.

"The more intelligence we have, the better our policing response will be."

During further proactive patrols in the west of the county, teams from across the force worked together to recover eight stolen vehicles.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Blakesley explained: "As a force we remain committed to working with other forces so we can share details of emerging trends and the names of those involved in organised vehicle theft. 

"It is imperative that in the delivery of our operational response we respond quickly, decisively and effectively once we receive details of a crime in action.

Stolen motor cycles awaiting collection from a site on the Port of Tilbury.

"A high-value Rolls Royce, recently stolen from just over the border in east London saw us work with Metropolitan Police officers to bring it to a tactical stop in Brentwood after it was spotted on the M25, ensuring that the owner was reunited with their car and two arrests were made that night.

"As we can't tackle this issue alone, partnership work is always highly valued whether we help another force by arresting a man in connection with a serious assault as we did last week or our own teams - our Operational Support Group, Road Crime Team, Dog Unit and Local Policing Team officers – who worked together to recover a stolen vehicles and a stolen quad bike in one incident."

But not everyone is lucky enough to get their vehicle back intact.

Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit is a small, dedicated team who research and develop intelligence that identifies locations involved in serious organised vehicle crime. During the week of activity policing activities, they were responsible for locating a container with two complete vehicles alongside parts identified as belonging to a further seven stolen vehicles from other force areas which yielded an estimated total value of £320,000 and they intercepted a second container locating a further £85,000 worth of cars. 

They identified a number of vehicles disguised with false plates - a Mitsubishi Outlander (£12,000), Land Rover Discovery (£28,000) and VW Golf- all recovered, and worked with local policing teams that resulted in the arrest of the driver of a stolen Alfa Romeo Giulia.

At the conclusion of the week, DI Palombella added: "With a clear focus on organised vehicle crime, we have plans to continue this work. 

"We'll be out there today, tomorrow, doing whatever is needed to tackle this issue head-on with the help of partners, industry and our communities."