Police track getaway vehicle across London to make arrest

Police box in suspect's vehicle on Pearscroft Road

Two men have been arrested in connection with the robbery of a moped in West Ealing after their car was tracked across London.

At around 6:05pm on Sunday, 29 March a man reported that he had his motorbike taken from him in Kirchen Road, W13. He told officers that a car pulled up and the occupants got out and threatened him with baseball bats and a knife before one of them rode off on the moped.

He had taken the registration plate and officers attached to Operation Venice, the Met taskforce dedicated to tackling moped theft and moped related crime, utilised ANPR technology, to track the car down in Fulham around an hour later. The police managed to box the car in on Pearscroft Road, SW6, so avoiding the need for a pursuit.

Two men, both aged 21, were removed from the car and arrested on suspicion of robbery. One of the men was further arrested for possession of an offensive weapon after a lock knife was found on him. Both remain in custody.

The stolen moped has yet to be located.

Sergeant Tony McGovern, of Operation Venice, said, “Our main focus was to arrest those responsible for this crime as quickly and as safely as possible, and we will use all available technology, including ANPR, to achieve this.

“With colleagues across the Met, Operation Venice will continue to identify and pursue those intent on committing brazen and violent crimes on the streets of London.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 4005/29March. You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

March 30, 2020