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Stolen motorbikes found thanks to tracking device

Henry Godfrey-Evans
BBC News, Essex
BikeTrac Multiple dark-coloured motorbikes packed into a container, held and elevated with yellow straps.BikeTrac
The founder of the tracker company said he felt "pure elation" when the bikes were recovered

Police discovered about 20 motorbikes inside a shipping container thanks to a tracking device.

The Metropolitan Police said the haul at Tilbury docks in Essex, believed to have been stolen, was worth about £350,000.

Bill Taylor, the founder of the tracker company, told the BBC he was "absolutely elated" when the collection was discovered.

Police said they were trying to trace the vehicle owners.

BikeTrac A green boat in the water with a large blue crane and multiple containers in the background.BikeTrac
Tilbury docks is an international port, and has been used as a route for criminals to export stolen vehicles

Mr Taylor explained that his company, BikeTrac, had been tracing one bike for several weeks that had been stolen from Richmond in south-west London.

He was not expecting police to find more bikes at Tilbury on 21 May.

"When we started 15 years ago, the average recovery rate in the industry was about 40%... now it's over a 90% chance of getting your bike back if you've got a tracker on it."

A Met Police spokesperson said no arrests had been made.

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