Two helicopters and officers from several police forces swooped on Ilford today to recover a stolen BMW.
The top-of-the-range car was discovered in a suspected illegal workshop in Romford Road, ready to be refitted for sale.
It had disappeared in a burglary almost seven hours earlier in Potters Bar - nearly 20 miles away.
Helicopters hovered over the area for more than half an hour to help the operation at around 3pm.
A spokesman for Herfordshire Constabulary said the car had been stolen during a burglary in Potters Bar shortly after 8am.
She added: “The BMW was driven away and it was subsequently traced to Ilford.
“We have arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of burglary and he is in custody.”
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