Two Loughton men plead guilty to interfering with vehicles
Essex Police had been deployed to search the area following reports of two men trying several car door handles
Last updated 30th Aug 2025
Two Loughton men have pleaded guilty to interfering with vehicles.
Darren Harold and Mark Orley were stopped by alert officers from Loughton Local Policing Team in the town’s Smarts Lane.
Essex Police had been deployed to search the area following reports of two men trying several car door handles at around 4am on 4 August.
Officers say shortly afterwards, they spotted two men fitting the descriptions given, stopped them and searched them, Chelmsford magistrates were told.
The two men were both subsequently arrested on suspicion of motor vehicle interference. A black raincoat stolen from one of the cars was recovered from Harold in custody.
Harold, 43, of Jones Close, and Orley, 50, of Greenfields, each admitted three counts of vehicle interference when they appeared before Chelmsford magistrates the day after they were arrested. Harold also admitted theft from a motor vehicle.
The pair are due to be sentenced at the same court on 15 September.
Epping District Commander Chief Inspector Terry Fisher said:
“Officers obtained good quality CCTV images and witness statements to present to court and this was key to Harold and Orley pleading guilty to all charges.
“We use stop and search to keep our neighbourhoods safe from serious harm. Officers use these powers sparingly but will not hesitate to stop and search someone where they have reasonable grounds for suspicion that they are in possession of stolen goods, drugs or offensive weapons.”
Chief Inspector Fisher says that vehicle crime is falling across the Epping Forest district.
“Thefts from vehicles have dropped by more than a third in the past year, with incidents of vehicle interference decreasing even more, by 41 per cent. Vehicle thefts are also dropping with 11 per cent fewer reports in the year to 31 July 2025 than in the previous 12 months.
“We will continue working hard to reduce vehicle crime still further but, to do this, we need the public’s help in reporting crime and providing us with information. You can do this online or by ringing 101.
“If it’s a crime in progress or someone is at risk of serious harm, then ring 999. In this case, we were alerted to a crime in progress and, thanks to the clear descriptions provided, our officers were able to arrest the suspects swiftly and recover the stolen coat.”