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I wanted to provide an update regarding the theft of motor vehicles, which members around this area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the Met Engage priority survey. Recently, Havering Joint Task Force (HJTF) worked collaboratively with The Crime & Enforcement Task Force (CETF) from Barking and Dagenham targeting vehicle theft across the BCU.
24 arrests were made across the three main days of action. 14 offenders have since been charged for their crimes which included recall to prison, burglary, disqualified driving, possession with intent to supply Class A & B drugs, failing to appear at court, possession of Class A & B drugs.
One incident, Havering Joint Task Force (HJTF) identified a stolen BMW on cloned plates in Rainham. The vehicle was identified by officers earlier in the shift as being stolen via residential burglary in Bishops Stortford. Two men inside the vehicle were arrested.
Another incident, both teams worked with ANPR technology to identify vehicles believed to be involved in crime and to locate stolen vehicles. One man was arrested for dangerous driving and driving not in accordance with a license as he did not stop for police and crashed into members of the public causing damage to their vehicles.
Acting on intelligence HJTF deployed to Romford in order to locate a male wanted on a recall to prison and for a number of burglaries. The male had evaded arrest a few days earlier having supplied false details to other officers. The male was sighted on foot in Romford and subsequently arrested.
CETF discovered an industrial unit in Barking that a stolen Range Rover was tracking at. Officers identified a man inside and he was arrested after a short foot chase. Inside the warehouse were 2 stolen range Rovers which had been stolen overnight, and hundreds of car parts for other vehicles which are believed to be stolen. The investigation is ongoing.
HJTF work tirelessly to crack down on offenders who are involved in vehicle crime. If you know anyone potentially linked to these sort of crimes please report them to police.
 We know that people can be concerned about the personal and financial impact of having their vehicle stolen, which is why we will pursue and arrest those who break the law. Please consider taking the following steps to keep your vehicle safe: Check that your vehicle is locked and secure every time you leave it. Thieves often look for easy opportunities to steal from vehicles. They will usually try the handles until they get lucky and find one that has been left unlocked. Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home and away from your front door. If you have a keyless entry vehicle, keep the key well away from the vehicle while at home and turn off wireless signals on your fob when its not being used. Consider putting the keys in a screened or signal blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag and check that it is still working every few months. Park your vehicle in a private garage if you can. If you don’t have access to one, try to park in a well –lit open space. Try to use public car parks that are part of the police approved Park Mark safer parking scheme. Secure your number plates with tamper resistant screws to avoid them being stolen and used by others.
If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years. | 
