Police have confiscated an estimated £80,000 worth of suspected stolen power tools from a west London car boot sale, a site previously condemned by Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick as a "parable of lawless Britain".
Jenrick's 'Carnival of Criminality' Visit
The Metropolitan Police's operation on December 11 came after Mr Jenrick visited the Hounslow Heath car boot sale in November. Following a tip-off, the senior Conservative MP described the scene as a "carnival of criminality", alleging he saw thousands of tools being sold at suspiciously low prices with sellers wearing balaclavas and police absent.
In a social media post, Jenrick recounted seeing tools still etched with tradesmen's names and claimed one seller boasted of operating for 22 years without police intervention. His public remarks helped trigger the subsequent police investigation.
Major Police Raid and Arrests
In a proactive strike against tool theft, officers recovered 400 suspected stolen items from the muddy field site. The haul included power drills, nail guns, electric saws, and a concrete mixer.
The force confirmed that two 15-year-old boys and two men, aged 54 and 55, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of handling stolen goods. All four have been bailed pending further inquiries.
Footage from the operation showed officers loading masses of power tools into police vans. Work is now underway to identify each item's serial number and markings to trace and reunite them with their rightful owners.
Ongoing Crackdown on Tool Theft
Superintendent James Rawlinson, from Hounslow's neighbourhood policing team, stated the force is directly responding to Londoners' concerns. "We understand the significant impact it has on tradespeople and their livelihoods," he said.
The Met reports some success in its campaign, noting a 20.3% reduction in tool theft between April and December this year compared to 2024. This year alone, operations at large-scale boot sales in Romford and Rainham have led to the seizure of over £500,000 worth of stolen tools and multiple arrests.
Police are advising tradespeople to protect their equipment by:
- Marking tools with a unique identifier.
- Taking clear photographs of all equipment.
- Recording serial numbers securely.
Superintendent Rawlinson added that the force is focusing on prolific offenders and organised groups while ramping up prevention through community tool-marking events across the capital.
