Kent police seize £120,000 haul of stolen rural vehicles at Dover after £40,000 Lexus is found stripped inside a van

Kent Police's Rural Task Force seized a £120,000 haul of stolen vehicles at the Port of Dover and across rural Kent, uncovering a £40,000 Lexus that had been completely stripped for parts and concealed inside a Mercedes Sprinter van. The three-day operation, carried out in late September, focused on the seasonal rise in agricultural and rural theft that officers say intensifies each autumn as longer nights give cover to criminals. Sergeant Ross Haybourne cautioned that thieves who were not caught on the spot should not assume they are in the clear.

Two caravans, a horsebox, a Nissan Navara worth £20,000 and a £10,000 Hyundai Ioniq were also seized across Dover and rural Ashford, Canterbury and Maidstone.

No arrests were made, but officers logged every driver's details and say criminal investigations are ongoing, with the seized vehicles set to be reunited with their owners.

Rural crime costs across south-east England fell 4% in 2025 to £6.8m, according to NFU Mutual — but police warn the autumn and winter months remain the most dangerous for farm and vehicle theft.