OFFICERS from Thurrock's Community Policing Team have recently been conducting patrols under the umbrella of Operation Sculptor, which was created to tackle theft of motor vehicles in the borough.

The team stopped a vehicle being driven without insurance in Sleepers Farm Road, Grays. The driver was reported for the offence of driving with no insurance and their vehicle was seized.

Whilst the officers were waiting for the recovery truck, officers came across a blue Land Rover, parked up nearby. Checks on the vehicle showed it had previously been stolen after a burglary in Rainham in January.

The vehicle was also seized and recovered, and the officers then made contact the Metropolitan Police to arrange a forensic examination.

Stolen BMW X5 loaded on to rear of recovery vehicle.

Another stolen vehicle was discovered yesterday (Tuesday, 2 April) when the team were patrolling the areas of North Stifford, South Ockendon and Chafford Hundred, and visited Pilgrims Lane.

Officers came across a BMW X5, parked up which appeared to be blocking the road. As the officers conducted their checks, they found a discarded set of false plates and a tracker in the nearby bushes.

The BMW X5 was confirmed to have been stolen overnight from the Surrey area.

The vehicle, false plates and tracker have been seized and recovered for forensic examination.