Homerton police recovered a stolen Kia car within 24 hours after neighbours raised suspicions about it being parked on their street.

The car was reported stolen around Whitechapel and Stepney Green by its owner on September 6.

The next day, the Met’s neighbourhood policing team that covers Homerton and South Hackney was contacted about a suspicious car.

Residents in one street had noticed that a car with a 2023 registration had been parked in the road, but nobody knew who it belonged to.

After officers attended on foot they were able to identify that the car was a vehicle that had been reported stolen the day before.

Police sergeant Mo Uddin, who leads the Homerton and Victoria Safer Neighbourhood Teams, then contacted the owner who was reunited with his car within the hour.

That evening (September 7), Homerton policing team said on X, formerly Twitter: “Within 24 hours from this car being reported stolen @MPSHomerton recovered the [car] and reunited it with its very happy owner."

A police spokesperson said that no arrests have been made but that enquiries to identify those responsible are ongoing.

Hackney Gazette: Homerton and Victoria Safer Neighbourhood Teams with Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in AugustHomerton and Victoria Safer Neighbourhood Teams with Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in August (Image: Metropolitan Police)

PS Uddin said: “By physically being present in the ward, officers are able to use their considerable experience, combined with police intelligence systems, to solve crime and benefit the community that we serve."