Police have confiscated an estimated £80,000 worth of suspected stolen power tools during a targeted operation at a car boot sale in west London, a site previously described as a "parable of lawless Britain" by Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick.
Major Haul at Hounslow Heath
On Thursday, 11 December 2025, officers from the Metropolitan Police executed a proactive operation at the Hounslow Heath car boot sale. The raid resulted in the recovery of around 400 suspected stolen items, including power drills, nail guns, electric saws, and a concrete mixer.
Footage from the scene showed officers removing a vast collection of tools from a muddy field and loading them into police vans. Two men, aged 54 and 55, and two 15-year-old boys were arrested at the scene on suspicion of handling stolen goods. All four have been released on bail while inquiries continue.
Jenrick's 'Carnival of Criminality' Claims
The police action follows a high-profile visit to the same boot sale by Conservative MP Robert Jenrick in November. After receiving a tip-off, the shadow justice secretary attended and later took to social media to decry what he witnessed.
In a post on X, he stated he saw "thousands of tools being sold at rock-bottom prices" with "the police nowhere to be seen." He reported that many tools still had tradesmen's names etched on them and that some sellers wore balaclavas. Mr Jenrick recounted a confrontation with one seller who allegedly boasted he had been operating for 22 years without police interference.
Ongoing Crackdown on Tool Theft
The Metropolitan Police emphasised that this operation was a direct response to community concerns about the theft of tools, which can devastate the livelihoods of tradespeople. Superintendent James Rawlinson, from Hounslow's neighbourhood policing team, said: "We are listening to Londoners’ concerns about tool theft because we understand the significant impact it has on tradespeople and their livelihoods."
The force reports some success in its crackdown, noting that tool theft across London fell by 20.3% between April and December 2025 compared to the same period last year. This year alone, officers have seized more than £500,000 worth of stolen tools through operations targeting large-scale boot sales in areas like Romford and Rainham.
Police are now working to identify the recovered tools and trace their rightful owners. They advise the public to mark their property, photograph it, and record serial numbers to aid recovery if stolen. The Met also runs regular tool-marking events across the capital to deter thieves and disrupt the market for stolen goods.
