Hemel Hempstead man, 21, arrested after spate of vehicle offences

The man, from Hemel Hempstead, was arrested by Operation Scorpion officers on Wednesday, January 22, and taken into custody.

He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

The charges are in connection with 12 offences in Abbots Langley between December 20, 2019 and January 7, 2020.

They were a mixture of theft from motor vehicle and vehicle interference offences. A number of items were taken from several vehicles including sunglasses, cash and a dash cam.

Sergeant Mark Palmer said: “We know that there was understandably a lot of discussion about these offences on social media over the Christmas period, so I am pleased to share that an arrest has been made as part of the investigation.

“We are doing all we can to crack down on vehicle crime because we know it has a huge impact on residents’ feelings of safety and security. It is an unsettling feeling to know that someone has been in your vehicle, even if nothing has been taken.

“There has been an increase in both overt and covert resources within the Abbots Langley area during hotspot time periods in response to these crimes. I would like to reassure residents that even if you don’t see a high-visibility police presence, this does not mean we aren’t there."