News 2 April to 8 April
Three people have been arrested after a car was pursued through Southend by a specialist roads officer.
The incident began in Rayleigh shortly after 11am today, Tuesday 1 April when a Vauxhall Astra failed to stop for police.
A pursuit was authorised, which saw a roads policing vehicle safely follow the Astra through residential streets despite numerous instances of dangerous driving manoeuvres by the car.
In total, the pursuit lasted for 12 minutes, before the Astra stopped in Victoria Avenue with three people then attempting to leave the area.
Officers quickly caught up with them and three people were arrested.
A 32-year-old man, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of driving offences and weapon possession.
Our Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit halt the export of six stolen vehicles found in containers at an Essex port.
Acting on information that a stolen Toyota CHR was on the move on the M25 on Tuesday 1 April, our Roads Policing Unit and Rural Engagement Team officers were deployed to search for the car.
They followed it to an Essex port, but the search ended abruptly when they discovered the car could have been in any one of 10 containers.
Undeterred, Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit (SVIU) officers returned the next day and worked with port staff to identify a single container of interest. When the container was opened, officers discovered not one, but three stolen Toyota CHR vehicles.
On Friday 4 April, another stolen vehicle was reported on the move on the A13; it too made its way to the same port. It was being moved inside a lorry’s container.
Within 10 minutes of SVIU officers’ arrival, they identified a container suspected of housing the stolen Lexus NX450 and it was removed from a stack of around 2,000 containers.
Once opened, three Lexus cars were piled up inside.
An investigation into South Essex car thefts sees two men jailed for a total of almost five years, thanks to an Operation Falcon investigation.
The investigation into the four car thefts in South Essex was launched after three Ford Kugas were stolen in quick succession in 2024.
The cars were stolen from Leigh-on-Sea, Southend and Shoeburyness between 9 and 14 May 2024.
In addition, a Toyota Avensis was stolen from Southend a week previously.
Detailed analysis of each of the thefts identified two men who were arrested at their home addresses on Tuesday 9 July 2024.
A man has been charged following a quick response from officers to reports of an attempted burglary in Southend.
We were called at around 2.15am on Friday (4 April) to reports of an attempted break-in on Gainsborough Drive.
Officers attended the scene and carried out a search of the area before locating a man and making an arrest.
Peter Anderson, 49, of Alcotes, Basildon has now been charged with going equipped.
He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.
Please quote the crime reference number 42/44896/25.
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Upcoming community police events
Tuesday 15 April from 11am to 12:30pm
Tesco Extra, Prince Avenue, Southend SS0 0JP
Tuesday 15 April from 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Wesley Methodist Church, Elm Road, Leigh, SS9 1SJ
Wednesday 16 April from 2pm to 3pm
The Haven Community Hub, Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, SS0 7LW
Wednesday 16 April from 2pm to 3pm
Natwest, Southend Highstreet, SS1 1JX
 Crime prevention advice
Keeping your shed or garage safe and secure
Many people don’t secure their shed or garage in the same way they do their homes - often using an easy-to-break lock or padlock to protect valuable contents such as a car, bike or lawnmower.
An opportunistic burglar will try a shed or garage first because they can find the tools they need to break into the main house.
Shed and outbuilding security: first steps
First off, check that your insurance covers the contents of your shed or outbuildings from theft.
Think like a thief
Take a look at your shed and consider how you would break in. It’s worth having a good padlock on the door with no exposed screws. Pay attention to hinges, as these are sometimes easily removable. If you have windows then these could be vulnerable unless they’re secured with wire mesh or grills. And keep it locked at all times.
Alarm it
Consider a battery-operated shed alarm. They look low key but they respond to movement or door contact with an extremely loud siren.
Lock it, hide it or mark it
Don’t give them the opportunity or the tools to commit a crime. Lock everything away securely. Tools can be locked inside a locker or box or secured with a chain.
Secure your bike to the ground or a lockable stand within a locked shed or garage. Visit Sold Secure to search for ground anchors and other locks designed to fix to floors and walls.
It’s always worth draping an old sheet or blanket over the top of mowers or bikes to keep them covered from view.
Although it might sound like stating the obvious, never leave your garage or shed door unlocked if you’re not around. Keep the door closed between uses so that no one can see what's inside.
Property mark your items and take photographs of them. Some tools can be painted with your name or postcode and forensic marking is also an option. You can also register any item that has a serial number with Immobilise.
A locksmith belonging to the Master Locksmiths Association can advise you on the most secure shed and garage door security. They can also help you install it. Most also provide full home security surveys.
The top five most common items stolen from sheds
- Bikes
- Mowers
- Sports equipment
- Power tools
- Garden tools
Be fraud smart
Holiday fraud
Holiday fraud is on the increase as people use holiday booking websites more and more.
Scammers will list a hotel room or accommodation that isn’t available or doesn’t exist. Often victims only realise it’s a scam when they arrive at their destination, by which time the fraudster is long gone.
What you should know
Scammers may want you to pay them by direct bank transfer, not through the website. They entice you to do this by offering discounts for bank transfer payments. Don’t be tempted.
A scammer will often use photos of accommodation copied from other sites. Use Google Images to check where else an image has been used.
The scammer, or their advert, may claim that they belong to a legitimate trade body or consumer protection scheme, such as the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). Contact the body or scheme to check the person’s credentials.
Research the property yourself. See if it has its own website. Always try to call the owner of the property to confirm they know about your potential booking. If you can’t see a phone number, send an email asking for it.
 My car has been stolen, what should I do?
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