Police smash gang of thieves in Rainham warehouse raids
The three men will be sentenced in September - Credit: Archant
Vehicles stolen during burglaries or towed from parking spaces by thieves were recovered in police raids on a Rainham warehouse.
A cannabis factory was also found during the police raids last November - Credit: Archant
Three men now face jail after admitting their parts in the car theft ring.
Parts from stolen vehicles were recovered bypolice - Credit: Archant
Usman Maqsood, 28, of Richmond Road, Ilford, Ahsan Baloch, 27, of no fixed address and Perry Strang, 22, of Cowbridge Lane, Barking, were arrested on April 12 last year.
Their arrests followed two police raids at Silverline Building, in New Road, in November when stolen vehicles and car parts were found, as well as a cannabis factory.
Earlier this month, all three pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court to conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
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Maqsood also admitted involvement in the cultivation of cannabis and accepted the prosecution’s case that he had been the main organiser of the handling operation.
The men will be sentenced at the same court on September 10.
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Det Con Barry Carter, of Havering CID, said: “Some of the vehicles in this case were stolen during residential burglaries, while others were simply towed away from their parking places throughout London and Essex.
“A co-ordinated and professional job was conducted to apprehend these criminals that included support from detectives, special constables, forensic examiners and specialist vehicle examiners who all played a vital part in gathering and collating an overwhelming amount of evidence against these defendants.
“Vehicle theft is inconvenient and often expensive for the victim not to mention the emotional cost that for some people far outweighs any monetary loss.
“I am delighted that the considerable efforts made in this investigation have resulted in guilty pleas that will now take the defendants straight to sentencing.”
