Four arrested and cars seized during police operation in Dover

Four suspected thieves were arrested and seven vehicles were seized during an operation at the Port of Dover.

In recent weeks, Kent Police officers have worked with Port of Dover Police, Thames Valley Police and Sussex Police checking vehicles leaving the country.

The operation was organised by Kent Police's Rural Task Force, working with the South East Partnership Against Rural Crime (Separc), to check for stolen plant and farm machinery.

Arrests

During police attendance on Tuesday 27 August, Monday 9, Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 September, more than 650 cars, vans and motorhomes were stopped and checked.

On Tuesday 27 August, officers discovered a car believed to be on cloned plates after being stolen in the Manchester area a week earlier.

The car was seized and three men were arrested on suspicion of burglary. They have since been released and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Stolen engine

On Tuesday 10 September, a van containing vehicle parts was stopped by officers and enquiries suggested a car engine had been stolen during a burglary earlier this year. A 44-year-old man was arrested and transferred to Gloucestershire Police.

Five other vehicles were seized for traffic offences during the days of action and 16 people were reported for traffic offences.

Officers were supported by the National Construction and Agriculture Theft Team (NCATT).

Kent Police Sergeant Ross Haybourne said: 'As well as the usual checks carried out on vehicles leaving the country, the work completed during this operation has allowed us to take a closer look at those sailing from Dover and take action against suspected criminals.

'We will continue to carry out operations of this kind to recover stolen equipment and ensure offenders aren't able to leave Britain before they are brought to justice.'