Two Premier League stars have been reunited with their cars after they were found among a haul of stolen vehicles and parts worth more than £16m.

A Ferrari and Range Rover, which belong to the unnamed players who have more than 100 international caps between them, were discovered in shipping containers due to be transported to Dubai from London Gateway Port in Thurrock, Essex.

More than 515 vehicles or parts were recovered by Essex Police’s stolen vehicle intelligence unit (SVIU), with officers believing the thieves were hoping to get up to three times their UK value when shipped off overseas.

One of the players went to collect his vehicle from SVIU’s base, with PC Phil Pentelow saying: “He was genuinely thankful and taken aback by the lengths we had gone to.

“His car was clearly very dear to him, and he was very impressed with the service he’d had from the police.

“Even though he plays for one of my team’s biggest rivals, he was a nice guy and down to earth. It was good to help him.”

Officers warned thieves could try to move stolen vehicles quickly, even if they fetch under market value, strip them for parts or ship them abroad.

Mother ‘extremely proud’ of son, 7, who dialled 999 when she collapsed

Homeless man admits stealing dummies from five children and using them in his tent

Harlow: Man, 23, arrested after four children allegedly had dummies ‘taken from them’

Documents are often forged and identities are cloned to sell cars on to unsuspecting buyers in the UK, they added.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

PC Paul Gerrish said: “Every stolen car is important to us and we work as hard as we can to get them back to their owners.

“When you phone someone up and tell them we’ve got their car with their kids’ car seats and the pushchair in the back, or other personal items, it’s hugely satisfying.

“We are creating a hostile environment for car thieves. We know what to look for, and we know how and where they operate.”

Read more from Sky News:
Discovery of human remains near beach declared ‘suspicious’
Genetics test ‘shows Wagner boss died in plane crash’
‘Extraordinary and urgent’ meeting called over World Cup kiss row

Some vehicle manufacturers, such as Ford and BMW, have helped the unit to improve security, with PC Pentelow urging drivers to fully lock their cars.

Drivers should use a steering wheel lock and look up the vulnerabilities of their cars, police added.

Related posts:

Bottles thrown at police called to break up COVID rules-busting party As pub gardens and shops reopen in England, PM urges nation to ‘behave responsibly’ MPs to pay tribute to Prince Philip as UK parliaments return early from Easter This year’s climate summit in Glasgow is last hope for limiting global warming, minister to warn Boy, 10, killed in dog attack – armed police destroy animal COVID self-isolation rules in England set to be scrapped by the end of next week Children at risk: Cuts to alcohol addiction treatment coincide with increase in parents’ heavy drinking ‘Up to a third’ of fish and chips shops face closure due to food shortages Uber driver says he ‘could have died’ after witnessing car flip onto train tracks Parents using junk food to make up for not being able to afford holidays and days out Police officer charged with assaulting 14-year-old McDonald’s manager contradicts ex-PC’s evidence about Wayne Couzens’ flashing