Fresh on the footsteps of news that the UK vehicle crime unit was able to recover 18 high priced vehicles from South Africa was news that over the past four months it has been able to recover vehicles that combined equal a total worth of over £4m.
The demand for high priced vehicles is large in due to the unstable economic climate of today and the Vehicle Crime Intelligence Services has declared that Durban is one of the main receiving areas of stolen cars that are shipped out of the UK. During a raid that took place in December of 2010 of a UK port a total of 16 vehicles that were marked to head to Durban were intercepted and returned to their rightful owners.
A following investigation by the vehicle crime task force led to another 18 stolen vehicles found in South Africa totalling 36 recovered vehicles in all. Among the stolen vehicles that were recovered were models such as Lexus, Audi, Land Rover, and Bentley.
This investigation is just one of numerous operations AVCIS has in progress to recover stolen vehicles and remove them as a facilitator for serious organised crime. Funded predominantly by private sector partnerships, AVCIS receives a grant of £300,000 of tax payers’ money from the Home Office to assist in its important work.
“Despite the austere climate, AVCIS has consistently recovered over £1 million worth of stolen vehicles each month since October 2010,” added DCI Hooper. “We’re extremely happy with the results over the past few months, and are especially pleased with the significant recovery from South Africa.
“In the current climate, motorists are extremely vulnerable. Not only is AVCIS working to recover vehicles but it’s also putting resources into increasing awareness of vehicle crime and ways in which motorists can protect themselves,” added DCI Hooper. “Without essential funding from the Home Office and our valued partners, we would not be able to carry out this important work.”
