Operation
Crassus Leads to the Recovery of Goods and Vehicles Worth over £1.1
Million
Between 26th April and 11th May 2008 the National Roads
Policing Intelligence Forum (NRPIF) together with the ACPO Vehicle Crime
Intelligence Service (AVCIS) and Ports Police around the UK took part
in Operation Crassus to try to identify the amount of stolen plant being
moved on the strategic road network. This was supported by the newly formed
Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit.
During this ACPO Operation, a large quantity of items were recovered including
rollers, trailers, mini excavators, back fillers, back diggers, Bobcats,
Dumpers, JCB buckets, compressors, generators, tractors, whacker plates,
telehandlers and other miscellaneous items. One piece of machinery recovered
was an excavator worth £200,000. There were a number of stolen vehicles
which ranged from high value cars, to Transit vans, along with stolen
lorry wheels and caravans. In total the Operation Crassus recovered vehicles
and goods worth in excess of £1.1million.
There was also a large quantity of items recovered at different Ports
around the Country either within the loading sites or in containers. These
were bound for both Europe and Africa, had they had left the Country,
they would have never been seen again.
Kevin Howells director of Datatag, which incorporates the CESAR plant
marking scheme said,
'Op Crassus clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when we adopt a
joined up approach – the Cesar scheme is gathering tremendous pace
with major manufacturers both in UK and Europe. With the recent announcement
of the new Thatcham security star rating accreditation scheme, it will
only be a matter of time before all equipment will be protected and registered.
'I would like to commend all the police officers and forces who took part
in this operation and would encourage Op Crassus to become a regular method
of denying criminals the use of the roads.'
Leading this on behalf of ACPO Chief Superintendent Geraint Anwyl and
Chair of NRPIF said, 'Theft of plant is all too common and results in
huge disruption and economic loss. This operation has provided a snapshot
of the sheer scale of the problem and will inform further enforcement
activity in the future.'
