Detectives investigating a series of keyless thefts involving high-value cars in London have arrested a man in Brent.

Officers held the 42-year-old following the discovery of a number of BMW vehicle parts in a lock-up garage they raided in the borough yesterday morning.

He was questioned and bailed to return to a police station in May.

Police also raided a further seven addresses across the city including three commercial premises, a business unit, lock up garages and a self storage facility.

Four men aged 24, 26, 31 and 34 were arrested when officers raided a lock-up garage in Southall and found a BMW with cloned plates as well as a number of vehicle parts for BMWs, Range Rovers, VWs and a Mercedes that had been shrink wrapped ready to be moved on.

All four are currently in police custody.

A search of a self storage facility in Hertfordshire revealed three containers with what are believed to be stolen car parts inside.

Officers also seized blank vehicle key fobs and part of a key programming device during their searches.

The raids, carried out by the Met’s Vehicle Crime Unit, follows a six-month long intelligence-led operation into the car thefts.