Essex Police find 'high value' stolen cars and arrest man

A man has been arrested on the suspicion of theft after eight stolen cars have been recovered in Essex

A 35-year-old man has been arrested after eight stolen cars including high value ones were found by Essex Police.

A Lexus and a Range Rover with false registration plates were discovered in Chadwell St Mary near Grays.

Four more cars were taken away from a location in St Francis Way, Grays. The haul of eight also included Kias, a Porsche and a Mercedes.

The arrested man has been released on police bail until February while inquiries continue,

Essex Police found two cars with false registration plates in Chadwell St Mary, including a black Lexus NX300

In a house search, police seized assorted number plates, a five-figure amount of cash and multiple vehicle keys and vehicle documents.

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Six of the cars had been stolen from across Essex, and two taken from London.

Essex Police said it acted after a "quick-thinking colleague" spotted a suspicious vehicle in Ingleby Road in Chadwell St Mary on Monday.

All of the cars found by Essex Police had been reported stolen, including the black Range Rover Sport

Det Insp Brian Palombella said: "A suspicion by a colleague proved right and led to a 20-hour operation to forensically remove the vehicles so we can obtain the evidence we need to continue our investigation.

"This find has resulted in significant disruption to organised criminal gangs associated with vehicle crime in Essex."

The 35-year-old was arrested on suspicion of the theft of multiple vehicles, handling stolen goods/vehicles and conspiracy to commit theft of motor vehicles.