Quick-thinking police officers managed to track down a £125,000 Range Rover within an hour of it being stolen.

The car was taken from an address in Oakhurst Avenue in Harpenden just before midnight last night (April 28).

Hertfordshire Constabulary says the number plates had been replaced with clones.

The car was believed to have been driven in convoy with a Ford Fiesta to St Albans, on to Maple Cross and into Thames Valley.

The Range Rover was stopped in Denham Way in Maple Cross at 12.50am.

Officers from Thames Valley Police stopped a Ford Fiesta in Chesham. 

As well as Thames Valley Police, road policing officers were supported by CCTV operators at St Albans City and District Council, the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit, the police helicopter and colleagues from the Force Control Room. 

Detective Sergeant Paul Wadsworth, from the Local Crime Unit, said: “The owner was stunned to get his vehicle back so quickly and without a mark on it.  Officers acted quickly and decisively and enlisted the help of other colleagues across the county and I’d also like to thank St Albans CCTV operators and Thames Valley Police for their support.” 

  • A 43-year-old man from Bedfordshire was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and possession of Class B drugs (cannabis). 
  • Two men – aged 19 and 20, also from Bedfordshire, were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. 
  • All three remain in police custody. 

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