Dawn raids across Essex and east London uncovered millions of pounds worth of suspected stolen high-end cars.

Police smashed into garages and properties to seize Range Rovers, BMWs and Mercedes as 450 officers from three officers targeted 22 locations simultaneously yesterday morning.

The officers were targeting people they suspected to be involved a gang which steals high-end vehicles from around Essex and London

Fifteen people were arrested, 25 suspected stolen vehicles were seized along with £150,000 in cash and £40,000 of jewellery.

A 200-plant cannabis factory was also uncovered.

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Officers used angle grinders to force entry into the premises. Photo: Essex Police

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A specially designed Jankel forced entry onto one of the premises. Photo: Ellis Whitehouse

Warrants were carried out in Waltham Abbey, Leyton, West Ham, Rainham, Navestock, Hockley, Grays, Basildon, and Benfleet.

The raids – which took place shortly before 6am yesterday (Thursday, February 27) – are part of an investigation into the theft of vehicles, particularly high value cars such as Range Rovers.

The investigation involves nearly 90 incidents where vehicles, mainly Range Rovers and Land Rovers, have been stolen between November 2018 and February 2020.

The vehicles have been taken from locations across Essex – including Shenfield, Witham, Loughton, Brentwood, Ingatestone, Epping, Audley End, Billericay, West Horndon, and Hockley – and London – predominantly in the Havering and Barking & Dagenham areas – as well as in Kent.

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Large quantities of suspected-stolen vehicle parts were discovered. Photo: Essex Police

Acting Superintendent Lewis Basford, who is leading the operation, said: “Vehicle theft causes serious harm to the victims both in terms of the financial loss of the vehicle itself and the impact is has on their life.

“It can affect your home life, your ability to take your kids to school and go to and from work.

“If you use your vehicle for work, it could mean you’re not able to work at all.

“Today’s operation highlights the excellent partnership and collaborative work that takes place between forces to tackle this issue.

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In total, 25 high-end cars were recovered. Photo: Ellis Whitehouse

“Essex Police, the Metropolitan Police, and British Transport Police have shared intelligence and pooled resources with more than 450 officers involved in today’s warrants, emphasising how seriously we treat this issue.

“Organised crime groups cause misery to our communities and work across borders making effective partnership work like this crucial to disrupting and dismantling them.”

The raids came following months of collaborative work from several different organisations including the Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN).

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The cars are suspected to have been stolen from across London and Essex. Photo: Essex Police

GAIN is made up of Government departments and law enforcement agencies which share intelligence and information to disrupt organised crime groups.

Superintendent Basford said: “By working in partnership, sharing intelligence lawfully and efficiently, the GAIN aims to ensure that Government agencies along with police will help reduce the risk, threat and harm from serious organised crime, in the most cost-effective way.

“Today’s action follows months of collaborative hard work by GAIN which are dedicated to dismantling crime networks which benefit from inflicting misery on communities.”

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Police launched the raids in the early hours of the morning. Photo: Ellis Whitehouse

During the warrants, officers recovered suspected stolen vehicles including as well as equipment used steal vehicles.

Superintendent Basford added: “The people behind these types of offences are organised and professional.

“They’re experienced at giving a vehicle a new identity and then selling it on to an unsuspecting member of the public.

“Often it may not be identified for several months that a vehicle’s identity has been cloned, by which point the criminals have their money and are long gone.”

“Gangs make millions of pounds in profits through this crime and can, re-invest that money into other forms of crime which cause further harm to the community.”

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