Ferrari and Range Rover stolen from two Premier League footballers found in shipping containers
27.08.2023 - 14:51
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A Ferrari and Range Rover Sport that had been stolen from two Premier League footballers were later uncovered in shipping containers.
The cars, which were due to be transported to Dubai, are among a haul of other vehicles and parts worth more than £16 million that have been recovered by Essex Police so far this year.
The Ferrari and Range Rover Sport reportedly belong to two players who have not been named, but have more than 100 international caps between them.
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The vehicles were stolen in neighbouring counties but discovered in shipping containers due to be transported to Dubai from London Gateway Port in Thurrock, Essex Police’s stolen vehicle intelligence unit (SVIU) said.
In total, 517 vehicles or parts were recovered and that the thieves could have been hoping to be paid two or three times more than the UK value, once they sent were overseas.
One of the footballers came to the team’s base to be reunited with his car, with Pc Phil Pentelow, of SVIU, adding: “He was genuinely thankful and taken aback by the lengths we had gone to.
"His car was clearly very dear to him, and he was very impressed with the service he’d had from the police. Even though he plays for one of my team’s biggest rivals, he was a nice guy and down to earth. It was good to help him.”
SVIU said car thieves may also look to quickly sell on stolen vehicles – even for significantly under the market value – strip it for parts, or ship either the whole vehicle or parts to the Middle East and Africa.
Thieves or handlers of stolen vehicles may also use false or cloned identities to sell them on to unsuspecting members of the public in the UK. They can also be