High-value stolen vehicles seized

Most of the vehicles were taken from victims' homes after burglars stole keys

Seventy three vehicles worth more than £2m and stolen to order have been recovered before being shipped abroad.

The eastern regional intelligence unit carried out a six-week operation at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk.

Officers from six police forces in the east searched 284 containers at the port and seized 73 stolen vehicles.

Vehicles had been stolen in Essex, Hertfordshire, London, Gwent, Avon and Somerset, Cheshire, Lancashire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Kent and Sussex.

The crimes dated back to January 2008 and 26 of the vehicles had been taken after car key burglaries, 22 were stolen and 25 were involved in fraud cases or as part of a dispute with other agencies.

The UK Border Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service were also involved in the operation which ended last Friday.

High-value stolen cars seized by police before being shipped abroad

Most were high-value prestige vehicles taken from victims' homes after burglars stole keys.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Miller, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, headed a unit made up of officers from Bedfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

He said: "Earlier this year the decision was taken to carry out an operation to explore the issues of vehicles being stolen to order and shipped abroad to Africa, the Middle East and beyond.

"We have had a great deal of positive feedback from victims who have been reunited with their property.

"We will continue to work with partners to tackle these crimes and will look at the possibility of carrying out similar operations in the future."

Mark Lay, senior officer leading the operation, said: "This investigation will have significantly disrupted sophisticated criminal networks and investigations will continue to trace those responsible and bring them to justice.

"The regional intelligence unit has clearly demonstrated how this groundbreaking operation can now be used as a model for any law enforcement agency wanting to undertake similar operations in the UK and beyond."