Four Arrested as Police Smash Stolen Vehicle Ring at Port of Dover
Four suspected crooks have been nabbed and seven dodgy vehicles seized in a major police swoop at the UK’s busiest ferry port, Dover. The crackdown targeted stolen cars, vans, and plant machinery trying to sneak out of Britain.
Multi-Force Operation Hauls in Stolen Gear
The haul comes after a multi-agency sting involving Kent Police, Port of Dover Police, Thames Valley Police, and Sussex Police. Led by Kent’s Rural Task Force in partnership with the South East Partnership Against Rural Crime (SEPARC), officers stopped more than 650 vehicles over several days in late August and September.
- 27 August: A car with cloned plates, stolen from Manchester just a week earlier, was seized. Three men were briefly arrested for burglary but later released as investigations continue.
- 10 September: A van loaded with vehicle parts was pulled over. Inside, a stolen car engine was found. A 44-year-old man was arrested and handed to Gloucestershire Police.
Traffic Offences and Charges Mount Up
Besides the stolen goods bust, five more vehicles were taken off the road for traffic offences, and 16 people were reported for various motoring violations. The National Construction and Agriculture Theft Team (NCATT) helped spot stolen machinery and vehicles.
Kent Police Sergeant Ross Haybourne said: “This operation gave us a closer look at those sailing from Dover. We’re hitting suspected criminals hard to recover stolen equipment and stop offenders from fleeing Britain before justice catches up.”
Crackdown on Cross-Border Crime Continues
The port operation highlights Kent Police’s strong commitment to clamping down on cross-border crime, especially the theft of valuable farm and construction machinery. Officers vow to keep up the pressure and make sure Britain’s stolen goods don’t slip through the net.
