crime

Hannah Walsh and Alex Bish,South and South East Investigations and Jonathan Fagg,England Data UnitSgt Ross Haybourne says his team has found stolen parts heading for Cyprus and Africa where there is high demandCars and parts are being stolen and smuggled out of the UK sometimes within 24 hours to countries in Europe and Africa, police are warning. Sgt Ross Haybourne, from the Kent Police Rural Task Force, says criminals are often stealing to order across the South and…

Stephen Stafford,South of England and Alex Bish,BBC InvestigationsSignal-boosting devices were used to steal keyless-ignition vehiclesVictims of an organised crime gang that stole mainly keyless ignition vehicles worth more than £2m have described the "devastation" of losing cars and vans.Thirteen people have been sentenced after admitting to their roles in the operation, which saw 107 vehicles stolen from across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire between February and October 2023.They were mostly stolen from driveways overnight and taken to a so-called…

A police investigation into a house fire more than a year ago where a man in his 70s died has finished with no criminal offences found.The blaze in Southdown Road, Weymouth, started on 4 October 2024 shortly before 11:00 BST.One man was pronounced dead at the scene, while another was taken to hospital. Dorset Police said during the investigation the man in his 60s was voluntarily interviewed by officers with no further action taken.The fire was initially treated…