Havering Joint Task Force officers’ outstanding work across the borough sees 28 arrests and 24 stolen vehicles recovered.

We will find you.-We will catch you and we will prosecute you.

Havering Joint Task Force officers led by Sergeant Tanner have an exceptional record of success across the borough. The team proactively patrol the streets of Havering to tackle car theft, burglaries, and anti social behaviour.

Last month has been a very productive one in terms of significant arrests, charges and convictions-with 28 arrested and 24 stolen vehicles recovered.

This is a small team of officers who are based across the borough that work covertly to tackle numerous offences taking place.

 The following arrests were made last month-

10 arrested for theft of motor vehicle

3 arrested wanted recall to prison

2 arrested for class A drug supply

5 arrested  for burglary

1 arrested for theft from motor vehicle

1 arrested for serious sexual offence

6 for miscellaneous offences such as being wanted on warrant/failing to appear at court.

The vast majority of these can be attributed to Operation Sandwood which is running borough wide and has seen the team be supported by specialist assets (VRES) and corporate funding.

Please see below for some of the most significant jobs this team have been involved in across Havering.

 UPMINSTER

The team’s first deployment saw a male arrested and caught red handed breaking into a Trades man’s van. Unfortunately his partner in crime evaded capture but they recovered over £20k in stolen tools and recovered the van used by the suspects which was also found to be a cloned LOS vehicle. He was charged and remanded. He is currently remanded in HMP Chelmsford. This was a significant arrest and there has been much scrutiny in the local news/SM around a perceived lack of action surrounding this crime type. They have also engaged in several pursuits with vehicles involved in this crime type which has led officers to recovering two other vehicles which were cloned.

Significant arrest made in regards to the tool thefts in the area.

RAINHAM AND WENNINGTON

A vehicle pursuit with a Rolls Royce Phantom and officers from Essex Police in Rainham/A13 saw tactical contact used and the vehicle recovered just 15 minutes after it was taken. Two prolific vehicle thieves were arrested with one having a knife on him also. Signal jammers also recovered. Both charged and remanded for Taking without Consent, Going Equipped and possessing a knife.

Stolen Rolls Royce recovered 15 minutes after being stolen following a police pursuit.

HAROLD WOOD

The team then pursued a cloned Lost or Stolen by burglary around Upminster and into Brentwood. The suspects evaded capture by using a fire extinguisher on the pursuing units allowing its escape. The following shift and for reasons unknown the same BMW using the same plates is sighted in Harold Wood. HJTF officers followed the vehicle to Basildon whereby a large pursuit ensued. As a result -two of the burglary suspects were arrested and taken to Grays Custody. EA Burglary/Robbery Investigation team and Basildon CID secured numerous charges against the pair who appeared in court. Both currently on remand in HMP Chelmsford and Feltham.

Vehicle pursuit from Harold Wood into Basildon.

ROMFORD TOWN

Officers sighted and pursued a stolen VW Fox through Harold Wood and into Brentwood which culminated in tactical contact being used on Brook Street/M25. The vehicle was stolen by opportunists from Romford after the owner left their keys inside it. Two males and a female, all very well known to officers were arrested. The female driver was charged and remanded with several offences including Agg Taking Without Consent and Dangerous Driving. She is currently on remand in HMP.

Tactical contact used to stop the thieves.

HAROLD HILL

Officers stopped and arrested a well-known offender in company with another well-known suspect in the early hours of the morning around Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill. Both heavily involved in Theft from Motor Vehicle offences previously. One of these males was wanted on a recall and is now back in jail. He was the third recall to prison arrest for the month.

ELM PARK

The team pursued and arrested the driver of a vehicle which had just committed a commercial burglary/robbery at a local store whereby a number of suspects jumped the counter and stole large quantities of cigarettes, alcohol and cash registers. A large amount of this property was recovered from within the vehicle which has been seized for a forensic examination.

GIDEA PARK

The team also identified a vehicle involved in drug supply and intercepted it. This resulted in a large quantity of cash and class A drugs being found. The sole occupant and driver was arrested.

Driver arrested after large quantity of cash and Class A drugs found.

ROMFORD TOWN

Officers arrested two burglars caught in the act in Brentwood Road, Romford, one of the males was wanted for three burglaries in Lincolnshire this month. He was charged and is being transferred to Lincolnshire custody. All property recovered.

Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector for Havering South, Mr Connolly told the Havering Daily:

“I work closely with Havering Joint Task Force who work with my teams within Neighbourhood Policing. HJTF are supported by the Local Authority of Havering through local policing. They have been deployed in an active operation targeting Theft of motor vehicles and Theft from motor vehicles in Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham and across the wider borough of Havering. This has been an additional operation supported centrally with additional assets from central reserves. We have been working hard to eradicate tool thefts and motor vehicle thefts within the neighbourhoods.

“No crime will be tolerated by any of my teams. This is a clear message to everyone that your vehicles need to be taxed and insured. Your vehicles need to be locked and personal items remove from display. If you have a keyless entry vehicle please ensure you protect your key with a faraday bag. I want the community to be vigilant and stress the importance of reporting any crime to us. If you believe a motor vehicle or stolen property has been left within your neighbourhood please report it to the police or local authority.

“The Borough of Havering and its community remain a priority to me and my policing teams. Motor vehicle crime will not be tolerated in any form. Operations are ongoing and I would warn anyone thinking of committing any crime within Havering to think twice. We will find you. We will catch you and we will prosecute you. If you witness a crime being committed please call 999. If it’s not an emergency please call 101”.

Well done to Sergeant Tanner and all his officers for their outstanding results.

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