Stolen cars worth £500k found in containers

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 had 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.

The Essex officers worked alongside City of London Police and Metropolitan Police over the course of a week, and recovered 316 stolen cars with a combined value of about £4m.

Cars were found inside two containers at Tilbury Port, in Essex