“Seventeen Arrests and Chop Shops Busted as Havering Police Officers Smash East London Car Crime Ring”.

Met officers have arrested 17 suspects and recovered 13 stolen vehicles during a week-long crackdown targeting car crime across east London.

Officers from local policing teams worked tirelessly throughout the operation, identifying 290 stolen vehicles in parts and seizing six signal jammers from illegal ‘chop shops’. Those arrested face a range of offences, including handling stolen goods, drink driving, possession of a bladed article, and aggravated vehicle taking. Most have since been bailed pending further enquiries.

The coordinated operation involved officers from the Met’s Havering Joint Task Force, supported by specialist units from across the Met and Essex Police. Together, they uncovered three ‘chop shops’ – in Barking, Upminster and Brentwood – and carried out a range of proactive work including patrols, crime prevention stalls, tracker activations, and stop and searches.

At Folkes Lane, Upminster, Havering Joint Task Force located a stolen van. Inside, officers discovered a broken-down stolen car concealed in the rear. While waiting for recovery, officers heard the sound of an angle grinder nearby and were alerted to another live tracker activation close to their location. As they searched, two men emerged from a nearby unit. Looking inside, officers spotted the stolen vehicle along with signal jammers and tools used to dismantle cars. Both men were swiftly arrested for handling stolen goods and the investigation continues.

The same task force tracked another stolen car to Little Hall Lane, Brentwood, following a live tracker signal. Working closely with Essex Police, they located the vehicle and went on to recover another four stolen cars across the wider Metropolitan Police area.

Elsewhere, the East Area Proactive Unit patrolling Havering intercepted three teenagers near a moped. One boy was found hiding in a bush and admitted to discarding the keys to a stolen vehicle. The 14-year-old was arrested for handling stolen goods and has since been bailed.

East Interceptors patrolling Harold Hill pursued two stolen mopeds after the riders failed to stop. Following a short chase, four teenagers were arrested for handling stolen goods.

Meanwhile, officers from the East Area Proactive Unit on patrol in Collier Row signalled for a BMW to stop. The driver made off from police, but after a brief pursuit, the car was stopped and two of the four occupants were arrested for driving offences.

South Havering Inspector Mark Connolly said: “This operation shows the continued commitment of our officers to tackle vehicle crime head-on. We are working day and night to target those responsible for stealing vehicles, dismantling them for parts, and fuelling organised crime. Our message is clear – if you’re involved in car crime, we will find you and we will take action.”

This operation sends a clear message: the Met and its partners will not tolerate organised car crime. Officers across Havering and beyond are relentlessly targeting offenders, using technology, intelligence and teamwork to keep communities safe. These arrests demonstrate the determination and professionalism of police teams working across east London – ensuring that criminals who profit from theft and deception are stopped in their tracks.

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