A man suspected of stealing parcels from a delivery van in east London crashed into police cars as he tried to escape arrest on Tuesday afternoon.
The man, aged in his 50s, was apprehended by the Met’s Flying Squad officers as part of a crackdown on parcel thefts and robberies from delivery vans and drivers.
Three men are said to have broken into a delivery van in Newham around 2pm, as the driver briefly left his vehicle to deliver parcels.
Half-an-hour later, police in Newham and colleagues from the Flying Squad - the Met’s specialist robbery unit - stopped a car in High Street South, East Ham.
In a bid to evade arrest, the driver’s vehicle crashed into three police cars.
“Thankfully no officer was injured,” said the Met in a statement.
“The man was taken to hospital as a precaution due to injuries sustained during the collisions.”
The man was found to be in possession of a number of parcels which are believed to have been stolen from the delivery van in Newham, said police.
He was arrested on suspicion of theft from a parcel delivery van as well as failing to stop for police and driving offences.
The Met is working to locate the other two suspects.
DCI Laura Hillier, Specialist Crime, said on Tuesday: “A team of police officers, including specialist Met Taskforce and Flying Squad detectives, are continuing an operation to tackle crime against parcel delivery firms and their staff.
“As one suspect found out this afternoon, we are using innovative tactics and dedicating significant resources to identify those believed to be responsible and arrest them.
“Anyone with information about people who commit these offences is urged to call 101 or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers and quote Operation Soslink.”
