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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. Stolen Mercedes Recovered After Officer’s Quick Instincts Pay Off
A routine patrol in Belmont and Canons took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when a dedicated ward officer spotted a Mercedes that “didn’t look quite right”—and her instincts proved spot‑on.
PC Giorgiana Albata was carrying out high‑visibility patrols when passing a vehicle which caught her attention. Something about it prompted her to double back and run checks. Moments later, she discovered the car had been reported stolen in the Thames Valley area after a suspect took it for a test drive and later returned to steal the vehicle.
Officers immediately seized the Mercedes so it can be returned to its rightful owner.
Speaking after the recovery, PC Giorgiana Albata issued a reminder to the public:
“On this occasion, someone bought a car at a price that was clearly too good to be true—and they ended up losing out. When buying or selling vehicles, take a moment to run proper checks. A few minutes of caution can prevent a very expensive mistake.”
Police are encouraging residents to use trusted sellers, verify ownership documents, and always question unusually low prices.
 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. | 
