Shipment of Stolen High-End Sports Cars
On the evening of 20th February 2025, officers from the Roads Traffic Policing Command (RTPC) received intelligence regarding a stolen HGV transporter carrying approximately four high-end sports cars being moved across London. Acting on this information, officers conducted checks on the HGV’s registration plates, but no record was found on the police database, strongly indicating that the vehicle had been stolen.
RTPC officers attempted to locate and intercept the HGV; however, due to poor visibility and challenging rural road conditions, the driver managed to evade capture, disappearing into the darkness. Given the likelihood of organised criminal involvement, additional resources were requested, and specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police's Matrix unit were deployed. This unit is specifically tasked with combating organised crime groups (OCGs) that exploit county lines and other illegal networks to further their activities. With Matrix now assisting in the search, officers meticulously reviewed available intelligence and identified potential routes the HGV might have taken. Shortly thereafter, MVET officers took over as the lead unit in tracking the stolen transporter. After approximately 45 minutes of intensive searching, the HGV was discovered inside a hangar on a remote property. The stolen high-end vehicles were still loaded on the transporter.
Upon further investigation, CCTV footage from the location revealed a suspect—a white male dressed in grey—fleeing the scene in a dark purple sports car moments before officers arrived. Given the nature of the crime and the potential for further criminal connections, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was called in to conduct a forensic examination of the scene. Officers hoped to recover DNA, fingerprints, or other evidence that could lead to the identification of additional suspects.
As the night progressed, RTPC officers, alongside Matrix, CID, ERT Rural Officers, and the Dog Support Unit, continued efforts to track the fleeing suspect. After approximately one hour, the dark purple sports car was located in a rural area, travelling along an isolated dirt track. Officers attempted to initiate a tactical traffic stop.
The suspect pulled over, meeting the officers conducting the stop and then formed a physical assault on two officers. The suspect suddenly sprinted across open fields in an attempt to not be caught. A foot pursuit was immediately initiated, and a trained police dog handler was deployed. The suspect, realising he was cornered, was swiftly apprehended, with the police dog acting as a deterrent to prevent further resistance. The suspect was placed under arrest for multiple offences, including vehicle theft, assaulting police officers, and resisting arrest.
A police transport van was dispatched to take the suspect into custody. Meanwhile, officers conducted a detailed search of the suspect’s vehicle and surrounding areas to gather additional evidence. At this stage, CID and Matrix officer's believes that multiple individuals may be involved in the wider criminal network responsible for the theft and shipment of these stolen vehicles. Investigators are working to identify and apprehend further suspects who remain at large. Fortunately, no officers sustained serious injuries during the incident.
The stolen vehicles have been seized and will undergo forensic examination to determine their origins and establish further links to the organised crime group. The investigation remains ongoing, with officers committed to dismantling the network responsible for this sophisticated vehicle theft operation.