Police raid sees Essex’s most wanted arrested after thousands of cars stolen

Four men have been arrested following an early-morning raid in South Essex, police say.

Residents were left stunned as they watched the operation unfold, with one saying they “haven’t had this much excitement since the ice cream van got stuck in the cul-de-sac”.

Another said: “It’s not every day you see a police raid during breakfast, unless of course you’re a police officer I suppose.

“They came flooding out of their cars and headed straight for the door. One officer tripped over a garden gnome which sent it flying,” they added.

The arrests come after police linked the suspects to 62 thousand car thefts which occurred across the county over a one-week period in January 2025.

During questioning, one suspect admitted to stealing a number of the cars, but only because he needed to “fund [his] passion for collecting rare stamps”.

In a statement, the police said: “We conducted an operation earlier today which resulted in four suspects being arrested, who remain in custody.

“Nobody was harmed during the raid, but we deeply regret the untimely demise of a local garden gnome. We extend our sympathies to the homeowner and assure them that this will not be a regular occurrence.

“A significant number of the stolen vehicles are Nissan Jukes, which will be crushed. This is for the greater good.”

More to follow.