Two men have been apprehended by the police in Dartford after a vehicle with false plates and a hunting knife was discovered during a routine patrol.
The incident unfolded on the evening of Wednesday, November 23, when officers, driving an unmarked police car, spotted the suspicious vehicle. The vehicle had been observed leaving a petrol station on Thames Road in Dartford at a notably high speed.
Upon stopping the vehicle a short distance from the petrol station, two individuals attempted to evade the authorities by fleeing on foot. However, their escape was short-lived as they were swiftly apprehended and taken into custody.
The two men, aged 30 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of multiple offences, including theft and possession of a bladed item. They have since been released on bail as the investigation continues.
Detective Chief Inspector Patrick Milford, who heads the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, emphasized the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies to combat criminal activity. He stated, “Burglars, thieves, and other criminals do not recognize county boundaries or care which force is responsible for policing a particular area. All they think about is making money from and taking possessions that do not belong to them.”
He further added, “It is, therefore, very important that we know who is travelling in and out of Kent with the intention of committing crime and that we work with neighbouring forces to take action against them. This was a successful operation that resulted in a number of arrests, but equally as important was the amount of information we were able to obtain into a number of ongoing investigations relating to serious and organized criminality. This work will continue in the interests of everyone who lives and works in Kent.”
A spokesperson for Kent Police provided details of the incident, stating, “On November 23, a vehicle was witnessed by officers in an unmarked police car being driven away from a petrol station at speed on Thames Road, Dartford.
They continued, “The vehicle was later found to be on false registration plates and had numerous items of meat and alcohol inside that are believed to have been stolen. A hunting knife was also located.”
The arrests underscore the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to address criminal activities and safeguard the community in the region. Investigations into the incident and related matters are ongoing.
