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Stolen cars worth £500k found in containers

Essex Police An officer standing in front of a open container with mattresses and a car inside Essex Police
Four cars had been found in each of the two containers at Tilbury Port in Essex

Stolen cars worth an estimated £500,000 have been found loaded into two containers ready to be shipped abroad.

Police and other forces found eight stolen cars in containers at Tilbury Port, in Essex.

Det Insp Brian Palombella said car thefts have become the focus of serious organised crime groups.

"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," he said.

Essex Police Someone holding a pair of plyers trying to get inside a containerEssex Police
Cars were found inside two containers at Tilbury Port, in Essex

The action was carried out by intensification week, were Essex officers worked alongside City of London Police and Metropolitan Police and recovered 316 stolen cars with a value of £4m nationally.

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